Personal profile
Biography
I joined the University of Dundee as Professor of Economics in September 2014. After completing my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Economics at the University of Oslo, I became a Research Economist at Statistics Norway prior to moving to the UK in 1994. I undertook a PhD in Economics at the University of Cambridge which was awarded in 1998. Before coming to Dundee, I was Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and Reader in Labour Economics at the University of Kent. Prior to that, I had also been a Research Officer at Keele University and a Research Fellow at Warwick University.
My main research interests include the economics of education, labour economics, and applied microeconometrics. I am Research Fellow of the IZA - Institute of Labor Economics and Fellow of the Global Labor Organization (GLO). I also have consulting experience with the UK Department for Education (DfE), Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop), among others. I have been an elected council member of the Scottish Economic Society (SES) and a Visiting Professorial Fellow at UNSW Canberra, Australia.
I am currently member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Family and Economic Issues.
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Cambridge
1 Oct 1994 → 30 Sept 1997
Award Date: 31 Jul 1998
External positions
Research Fellow, IZA Institute of Labor Economics
31 Jul 2018 → …
Fellow
31 Jul 2017 → …
Keywords
- HB Economic Theory
- Education and Labour Economics
- Family Economics
- Development Economics
- Chinese Economy
- Applied Econometrics
- HC Economic History and Conditions
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 15 Life on Land
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 2 Finished
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Longitudinal Study of Child Development in Aguascalientes (EDNA)
Zhu, Y. (Investigator)
1/01/19 → 31/12/19
Project: Research
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Sheepskin Effects in the Returns to Education: Evidence from UK Natives and Immigrants
Zhu, Y. (Investigator)
1/07/13 → 30/04/14
Project: Research
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Peer Effects in Classrooms – Evidence from Random Assignment
Xu, L. (Lead / Corresponding author) & Zhu, Y., Mar 2026, In: International Journal of Educational Development. 121, 12 p., 103529.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (Pure) -
Returns to college education of Chinese manufacturing employees: Who benefits more?
Lin, Y., Rambaccussing, D. & Zhu, Y. (Lead / Corresponding author), Feb 2026, In: China Economic Review. 96, 23 p., 102665.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (Pure) -
Does college education make women less likely to marry? Evidence from the Chinese higher education expansion
Huang, B., Tani, M., Xu, L. & Zhu, Y. (Lead / Corresponding author), Oct 2025, In: Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics. 118, 18 p., 102433.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile28 Downloads (Pure) -
Formal and informal debt in China: Evidence from the 2014 hukou reform
Xu, L., Tani, M., Zhu, Y. & Wen, X. (Lead / Corresponding author), Nov 2025, In: Emerging Markets Review. 69, 14 p., 101367.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus)16 Downloads (Pure) -
Returns to Education in the Context of Higher Education Expansion
McKenzie, T., Xu, L. & Zhu, Y., 9 Jan 2025, Handbook of Education and Work. Verhaest, D. & Wolbers, M. (eds.). Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 16-36 21 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)61 Downloads (Pure)
Activities
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Nanjing University (NJU), China, International Fellow Initiative, 2025 Senior Fellow
Zhu, Y. (Member)
5 Dec 2025 → 3 Jan 2026Activity: Other activity types › Public engagement and outreach - public lecture/debate/seminar
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Advisory Board member of Department for Education's commissioned research project
Zhu, Y. (Member)
Dec 2025 → May 2026Activity: Other activity types › Public engagement and outreach - public lecture/debate/seminar
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University of Glasgow PhD viva
Zhu, Y. (Examiner)
10 Jan 2025Activity: Examination types › Examination
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2025 Annual Conference of the Scottish Economic Society
Zhu, Y. (Participant)
7 Apr 2025 → 9 Apr 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
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British Academy grant “The effect of accent on wages: Evidence from an experimental vignette study”
Zhu, Y. (Member)
1 Sept 2024 → 31 Aug 2026Activity: Other activity types › Funding - grants and income which support research related activities