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Can Foreign Direct Investment Boost Social Mobility? Evidence from China

Jianpeng Deng, Zibin Huang, Qing Shi, Xin Zhao, Apr 01, 2026

Using China’s foreign direct investment (FDI) liberalization following WTO accession as a quasi-natural experiment, we examine whether foreign direct investment can promote intergenerational occupational mobility.

Rural Road Stimulus and the Role of Matching Mandates on Economic Recovery in China

Anthony Howell, Oct 30, 2024

The findings show that the temporary cost share exemption boosts short-term income growth, increases local investment in infrastructure, and promotes entrepreneurial activities, particularly among returning migrants.

Decoupling of Incomes and CO₂ Emissions in China and the US

Chuanzhi Huo, Angqi Li, Prakash Loungani, Jul 23, 2025

Johns Hopkins University. (The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be attributed to Johns Hopkins University.)

The Narrowing Path: Trade and Development in a New Era

Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg, Michele Ruta, Feb 11, 2026

International trade will continue to be important for economic performance..

Pollution in the Rain: Strategic Evasion of Water Pollution Regulations in China

Runhao Zhao, Ye Yuan, Apr 15, 2026

Rain dilutes and cleanses surface water—but not always. We document a novel “polluting-in-the-rain” phenomenon: industrial firms strategically time the release of untreated wastewater into waterways during heavy rainfall, exploiting the natural dilution effect to evade water quality regulations that are primarily designed for dry-weather conditions. Such strategic emissions pose a serious threat to local water quality and significantly undermine China’s national pollution abatement efforts.