Time: 2:30 p.m., April 27, 2023

Place: Conference Room on the 8th Floor in School of Economics

Speaker: Dr. Shi Shuang

Reviewer: Professor Wang Yuru

Sponsor: Nankai Institute of Economics

More Information

Shi Shuang received her PhD in economics from the University of Hong Kong and is currently a lecturer at Nankai Institute of Economics. Her research interests include economic history and regional economy. Her main research directions include origins of nations, national capabilities and infrastructure construction. Her research findings are published in Academic Research and Journal of Sun Yat-sen University.

Lecture Abstract

Grand Canal of Ming and Qing Dynasties (1293-1901) is the largest transport infrastructure in Pre-Industrial Society. Its main purpose is to transport grain from the south to the northern capital. In order to ensure the smooth transportation of grain, many natural rivers from west to east on the North China Plain were blocked. Therefore, the Yellow River and its tributaries burst their banks irregularly.

By constructing a unique dataset between 1293 and 1901 and using Differences-in-Differences (DID) and Regression Discontinuity (RD), the research identifies the short-term and long-term consequences of human intervention on the natural environment.