In this study, we exploit a policy shock that differentially increased capital gains taxes for housing units with holding period less than 5 years, and document tax avoidance and tax evasion in the residential resale market in China. We show suggestive evidence that after the capital gains tax...

In this study, we provide a comprehensive overview of housing affordability in China from both the macro and micro perspectives. We extend the scope of housing affordability analysis to all Chinese cities based on a unique panel dataset in 275 Chinese prefecture cities from 2014 to 2018. We also...

While a timely, accurate house price index with broad coverage is of significant importance in housing market research and analysis, the lack of reliable raw data sources remains a major constraint in the house price index construction in nascent housing markets such as China. In this study, we...

This paper investigates the relationship between temperature and hospitalization in China. Using inpatient visit claims of two major public insurance schemes covering 47 cities in 28 provinces for three years, we see a 7.3% increase in hospital admissions on days on which the average temperature...

How does a relaxation of migration restrictions affect labor-market outcomes of incumbent migrants? In this paper, we answer this question by studying a significant internal migration policy change in China: the 2014 hukou reform. This reform substantially removed the migration barriers of...

The topic of air pollution has drawn considerable attention globally. In this paper, we examine the immediate effect of air pollution on a substantial decision, that is, a housing purchase. By linking housing purchasing behavior with the air quality in Beijing, we document market participants'...

In this paper, we investigate the determinants of household asset portfolios during the COVID-19 outbreak in China. Using an online longitudinal survey and focusing on a broad spectrum of assets, including stocks, gold, wealth management products, and houses, we show that more confirmed COVID-19...

How does an epidemic affect individuals' expectations on economic prospects? Do people care more about containing the disease or sustaining normal economic activities during the epidemic? We implement an incentivized longitudinal online survey on economic expectations with randomized controlled...

We study the effects of information treatments on mitigating the negative impacts on demand at specific locations with a survey experiment. Using two randomly assigned information treatments targeting Hubei products, we document that the respondents are more likely to choose a similar non-Hubei...

There are widespread concerns that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic leads to negative attitudes or even stigmatization, especially towards peoples and products from the epicenters. We study the effects of information treatments on partially mitigating the negative impacts such as stigmatization on...