Professor Zheng Wang sees himself as an economist and social science researcher who works in the fields of international economics, political economy, environmental economics, and their intersections, focusing on exploring the interplay between individual economic agents and institutions, in both contemporary and historical contexts. Seasoned by his extensive work in higher education across the UK and beyond, Zheng brings a wealth of research, teaching, and leadership experience to his current role as Professor of International Economics and Research Lead in Economics in the University of Dundee. Prior to Scotland, his journey included stints in De Montfort University, the University of Hull, the University of Nottingham (both the UK and China campuses), and Zhejiang University.

He earned his PhDs from the University of Nottingham and Zhejiang University, and his first degree from Zhejiang University too, all in economics. 

Outside of work, he enjoys practicing Chinese calligraphy, exploring natural and historical heritages, and watching documentaries. He is hugely priviledged to be able to share his life stories of overcoming severe disabilities with school students and people of all backgrounds. 

Personal website: zhengwang.weebly.com

Other online presence: Google Scholar, Scopus, LinkedIn

• Why do individuals and firms not always respond well to policies?
• How do institutional and cultural forces influence the behaviour of economic agents in a globalised world?
• What role can trade and other economic policies play in correcting the environmental externality of global production? 

These are some of the fundamental questions that underly and drive Zheng's main lines of research.  

Trained as a trade economist, Zheng's fascination with globalisation stems from its unavoidable and rich nature, making it a fantastic backdrop to explore many economically and socially relevant questions. Many of his research ideas are inspired and shaped by his observation of social trends and the works of great minds found in other disciplines. Methodologically, his research often employs state-of-the-art quantitative methods and utilises large and complex datasets.

His research has been recognised in both academia and the wider world, evidenced by publications in leading journals in economics such as Journal of International Economics, Journal of Development Economics, and European Economic Review, and coverage by influential scientific and public media outlets including Nature, the Financial Times, and the BBC. Some of his recent projects have been awarded competitive grants from the British Academy, ESRC, and Fritz Thyssen Foundation.

He welcomes PhD applications in the following areas: (1) international trade and migration, (2) political economy, and (3) environmental economics. Excellent analytical and communication skills, and a curious heart, are required for PhD research in these areas.

Teaching philosophy and approach - In teaching, he believes in the idea of "economics for the many". He is an enthusiastic advocate and practitioner of using a hands-on approach in teaching economics, be it theoretical, empirical or applied topics, by focusing on the intuition and practicality of applying economic thoughts and methods to the analysis of real-world problems. He believes that students, irrespective of their academic levels and backgrounds, should not be unduly kept from the frontier knowledge of the profession because of the high technical barriers.

Modules taught - International Economics (UG&PG), Business Economics (UG), Applied Economics Topics (UG), Policy Evaluation Methods (PhD).