Recently, the results of the “Job Market Star” selection for doctoral graduates at the 25th China Economics Annual Conference were officially announced. Lin Donglin, a PhD student supervised by Professor Zhang Yan from the School of Economics, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, was selected as this year’s “Job Market Star”. Open to economics PhD students enrolled at council member institutions of the China Economics Annual Conference and expected to graduate in 2026, the selection admitted a total of 10 candidates after comprehensive review by the evaluation committee.
Abstract
This paper reveals that the reduction in the US-China trade deficit during the trade war obscured reporting discrepancies in US imports of Chinese products due to tariff evasion. We empirically examine the effect of the US-China trade war on tariff evasion in US imports of Chinese goods and provide direct evidence that market demand of entry states contributes significantly to tariff evasion. Using the input-output table, we find that a one standard deviation increase in local demand causes a 1.312-fold rise in tariff evasion for affected products post–trade war. This effect mainly works through intermediate goods, and its impact grows as importers' tariff liabilities increase. Further analysis considering local social environments shows that voters' attitudes toward trade protection and the development of labor unions play crucial roles in mediating the influence of market demand on tariff evasion.
About the Student
Lin Donglin is a straight-track PhD student in Population, Resource and Environmental Economics (admitted in 2021) at the School of Economics, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, supervised by Professor Zhang Yan. He has published a paper in Journal of International Economics, a top-tier international economics journal. Some of his policy consultation reports have received instructions from the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and leading officials of Shanghai Municipality. He has also participated in multiple national, provincial and municipal social science foundation projects.
About the Supervisor
Zhang Yan is Professor, Doctoral Supervisor and Head of the Macroeconomics Department at the School of Economics, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. She also serves as Deputy Director (at principal division level, temporary post) of Putuo District Commerce Commission of Shanghai. Her main research field is international trade. She has published more than twenty papers in well-known economics journals including Journal of International Economics, Journal of Comparative Economics and Canadian Journal of Economics. She has authored one monograph and one textbook, and presided over more than ten research projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and provincial and ministerial policy consultation programs. She is a recipient of the An Zisheng International Trade Research Award and the Shanghai Philosophy and Social Sciences Outstanding Achievement Award. As a policy practitioner, she served as Deputy Director of Pudong New Area Commerce Commission during 2024–2025. Up to now, over ten of her policy consultation reports have been adopted and endorsed by central and provincial-ministerial-level leaders.
The School of Economics, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics fully implements the training philosophy of all-round development of knowledge, capability and quality, and has developed distinctive pathways for cultivating high-level and innovative talents. Supported by a systematic curriculum, the school provides rigorous and comprehensive theoretical and research training for students. It is committed to nurturing top-notch talents with solid theoretical foundations and outstanding innovative capacity, who can take on the mission of national rejuvenation.
