Prof. James Kai-sing KUNG
Economics

Area Head of Economics
Sein and Isaac Souede Professor in Economic History
3917 7764
jameskung@hku.hk
KK 937
http://www.jameskung.net


Academic & Professional Qualification
PhD: University of Cambridge
Master of Philosophy: University of Cambridge
Bachelor of Arts: University of Guelph
Biography
James Kung joined the HKU Business School at the University of Hong Kong in 2018. Before that he was the Yan Ai Foundation Professor of Social Science at the Hong Kong University of Science of Technology (HKUST), where he had taught for many years. He was twice the winner of the School of Humanities and Social Science’s teaching award while at HKUST.
Teaching
Economic Development of China
Capstone Seminar
Empirical Analysis of China
Research Interest
Kung’s research interests are steeped in the economic history of China, its institutions and its political economy of development. Currently, Kung is studying both the origins of China’s meritocratic civil exam system (keju) and its long-term persistent effects on human capital development. At the same time, he is examining issues related to the political exchange between firms and officials, and corruption more broadly in contemporary China.
Selected Publications
“Malthus Goes to China: The Effect of “Positive Checks” on Grain Market Development, 1736–1910”
(with Yanfeng Gu). The Journal of Economic History, forthcoming.
“Political Elites and Hometown Favoritism in Famine-stricken China”
(with Titi Zhou). Journal of Comparative Economics 49 (1): 22-37, 2021.
“Long Live Keju! The Persistent Effects of China’s Civil Examination System”
(with Ting Chen and Chicheng Ma).?The Economic Journal?130 (631): 2030-2064, 2020.
“Busting the ‘Princelings’: The Campaign Against Corruption in China’s Primary Land Market”
(with Ting Chen).?The Quarterly Journal of Economics?134 (1): 185-226,?2019.
“Do Land Revenue Windfalls Create a Political Resource Curse? Evidence from China”
(with Ting Chen).?Journal of Development Economics?123: 86-106, 2016.
“Of Maize and Men: The Effect of a New World Crop on Population and Economic Growth in China” (with Shuo Chen).?Journal of Economic Growth?21 (1): 71-99, 2016.
“Diffusing Knowledge while Spreading God’s Message: Protestantism and Economic Prosperity in China, 1840-1920” (with Ying Bai).?Journal of the European Economic Association?13 (4): 669-698, 2015.
“The Tragedy of the Nomenclature: Career Incentives and Political Radicalism during China’s Great Leap Famine” (with Shuo Chen).?American Political Science Review?105 (1): 27-45, 2011.
“Climate Shocks and Sino-nomadic Conflict”
(with Ying Bai).?The Review of Economics and?Statistics?93 (3): 970-981, 2011.
Service to the University/Community
Kung begins his term as President of the Association for Comparative Economic Studies in January 2021 and continues to serve on the editorial board of the Journal of Comparative Economics?and?Explorations in Economic History.