Dr Lei Xu

PhD (University of Dundee), MSc (Queen Mary University of London), BSc (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China)

  • Lecturer in Economics

Expertise: causal analysis, apprenticeship, higher education, human capital development, minimum wage

Research groups and centres

Lei is a micro-economist with research interests in the economics of education, and labour economics broadly defined. His research primarily relies on novel identifications due to the pervasive confounding factors in many non-experimental observational studies. His research focuses on estimating the production function in secondary education, the selection of the field of education and occupation, work-based learning with a special focus on apprenticeships, and career mobility.

Before joining 天堂视频, Lei has previously worked at the National Institute of Economic and Social Research and Bournemouth University. He has published in esteemed international journals including the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, Oxford Economic Papers, Journal of Housing Economics, China Economic Review, etc. His research has been funded by various funders, including the Centre for Vocational Education Research, UKRI, Education Endowment Foundation, HMRC, What Works for Children’s Social Care, and Nuffield Foundation.

Research Interests

  • Economics of Education
  • Labour Economics
  • Chinese Topics
  • Research Fellow, Global Labor Organization
  • Research Affiliate, IZA
  • HEA fellowship

“” with Yu Zhu. The Manchester School, 2023.

“” with Fengyan Dai and Yu Zhu. China Economic Review, 2022.

“.” with Stefan Speckesser. Oxford Economic Papers, 2022.

“” with Massimiliano Tani and Yu Zhu. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 2021.

“.” with Bin Huang, Xiaoyan He, and Yu Zhu. Journal of Housing Economics, 2020.