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Nancy Qian

Nancy Qian

Writing for PS since 2021
32 commentaries
1 videos & podcasts

Nancy Qian, Professor of Economics at Northwestern University, is Co-Director of Northwestern University’s Global Poverty Research Lab and Founding Director of China Econ Lab.

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  1. What TikTok Got Wrong About America
    qian36_ Jens Kalaenepicture alliance via Getty Images_tiktok Jens Kalaene/picture alliance via Getty Images

    What TikTok Got Wrong About America

    May 6, 2024 Nancy Qian thinks the company sealed its fate by aggressively interfering in the US political process.

  2. Humanizing the US-China Relationship
    qian35_Wang GangVCG via Getty Images_shanghai Wang Gang/VCG via Getty Images

    Humanizing the US-China Relationship

    Apr 5, 2024 Nancy Qian laments the sharp decline in cross-cultural in-person interactions since the pandemic.

  3. The Truth About US Immigration
    qian34_PEDRO PARDOAFP via Getty Images_immigration PEDRO PARDO/AFP via Getty Images

    The Truth About US Immigration

    Mar 18, 2024 Nancy Qian warns that overheated campaign-season rhetoric is dangerously polarizing and ultimately self-defeating.

  4. Why Are So Many Young Chinese Depressed?
    qian33_WANG ZHAOAFP via Getty Images_chinese youth WANG ZHAO/AFP via Getty Images

    Why Are So Many Young Chinese Depressed?

    Dec 20, 2023 Nancy Qian identifies the main structural factors driving widespread youth unemployment and loneliness.

  5. Zero-COVID’s Long Tail
    qian32_Kevin FrayerGetty Images_china covid Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

    Zero-COVID’s Long Tail

    Nov 17, 2023 Nancy Qian considers the lasting economic and social effects of China’s three years of draconian lockdowns.

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  1. spence173_ Joe RaedleGetty Images_power Joe Raedle/Getty Images
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    Crunch Time for the Power Sector

    Michael Spence

    Making the power sector fit for the twenty-first century requires a “banker” that finances and coordinates relevant long-term investments, and an “architect” that guides the development of a complex, interconnected smart-grid system. National governments need to fill both roles.

     argues that developing flexible, stable, and resilient smart grids requires an expanded industrial policy.
  2. op_janeway16_SAUL LOEBAFP via Getty Images_bidenchips Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
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    The Rise of Mesoeconomics

    William H. Janeway

    A growing body of literature focusing on the domain between the microeconomic and the macroeconomic has become increasingly relevant in a world beset by supply shocks. Armed with such insights, those designing industrial policies will have a better chance of achieving their overlapping economic- and national-security goals.

     details how a long-neglected field of economic study can be applied to today's most pressing policy challenges.
  3. strain27_Philipp von Ditfurthpicture alliance via Getty Images_AIeducation Philipp von Ditfurth/picture alliance via Getty Images
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    What the AI Pessimists Are Missing

    Michael R. Strain points out that the technology will help to address many of the risks it creates.
  4. ito37_Spencer PlattGetty Images_columbiaprotests Spencer Platt/Getty Images
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    The Innocent Bystanders of College Protests

    Takatoshi Ito laments that a radical minority can disrupt the lives of so many in the broader university community.
  5. lacamera1_Wang DongzhenXinhua via Getty Images_COP28 Wang Dongzhen/Xinhua via Getty Images
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    Only Public-Private Cooperation Can Accelerate Decarbonization

    Francesco La Camera & Bruce Douglas explain how to translate political commitments into actual wind turbines and solar panels.
  6. haass167_ANATOLII STEPANOVAFP via Getty Images_ukrainesoldiers Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images
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    Defining Success in Ukraine

    Richard Haass calls for a shift to a defensive posture and efforts to bring about a long-term ceasefire.
  7. aslund75_Pierre CromGetty Images_ukraineconflict Pierre Crom/Getty Images
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    A Unified Western Strategy for Ukraine

    Anders Åslund proposes a maximalist approach to military aid to replace the current piecemeal injections of old weapons.
  8. khrushcheva180_ContributorGetty Images_shoiguputin Contributor/Getty Images
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    Russia’s Battle of the Ministries

    Nina L. Khrushcheva sees a high-ranking official's recent arrest as a sign of declining confidence in Vladimir Putin's leadership.
  9. ghosh77_MANDEL NGANAFP via Getty Images_ajaybanga Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
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    The “Billions to Trillions” Charade

    Jayati Ghosh explains why using development banks' resources to incentivize private-sector finance is unlikely to succeed.

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