Synopsis of Research in Shanghai (May 27 - July 26) :
Zhenhuan Lei has three ongoing research projects on Chinese politics. The first one is about why Chinese cities have strong interests in building grand subway systems even if mayors cannot finish building subways in their terms; for which he argues that there is a political incentive behind it. In his second project, he finds that township governments in China used fiscal transfers to influence village officials but hurt villagers' welfare. Finally, he has a third project discussing how city mayors' political connections can help firms in their cities get listed in the Chinese stock market. Given the research focus of these projects are all China, Lei believes NYU Shanghai to be the best place to further his research projects. He knows Professor Eric Hundman at NYU Shanghai, who also studies Chinese politics. Professor Hundman, along with other scholars in leading universities in Shanghai, can give feedback to Lei on how to improve these research projects.