English Oral Interview Special Recitation Materials for the School of Smart Governance, Renmin University of China

Chinese text | Chinese text | 2026 Chinese text | Chinese text | Chinese text 45 Chinese text.

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Chinese text repeated cross-sectional

D.I.D, identification, mechanism, heterogeneity 和 limitation. Chinese text three reasons. Chinese text.

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Chinese text：Sorry, could you please repeat the question a little more slowly?

Chinese text：Do you mean that you would like me to discuss ...?

Chinese text：That is a very interesting question. Let me think about it for a moment.

Chinese text：My basic view is that ...

Chinese text：Let me put it in a more direct way.

Chinese text：I have not studied this issue systematically, but based on what I know, I would look at it from two aspects.

Chinese text：Let me correct that. What I mean is...

Chinese text：One more point I would like to add is ...

Chinese text：So, overall, I believe the key is to balance efficiency with fairness and accountability.

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1 A. Please introduce yourself. 1 Chinese text)

Chinese text U.I.B.E applied microeconomics；environmental regulation；peer effects；digital technology；labor market；research fit Chinese text：Good afternoon, professors. My name is Lingyan Zhang, and I major in Finance at the University of International Business and Economics. My interest in applied economics developed through two research experiences. In my independent paper, I studied how environmental regulation affected the job allocation of college graduates with a repeated cross-sectional D.I.D design. The result was somewhat surprising, so I continued to explore wages, job structure, and labor mobility instead of stopping at the baseline result.

In a high-school field project, I matched survey, exam, and seating data and helped construct spatially weighted peer measures. These experiences trained me in empirical research and showed me that I truly enjoy studying real social problems. In the future, I hope to study how digital technologies reshape labor markets and public governance. That is why I am applying to the School of Smart Governance. Thank you.

1 B. Please introduce yourself. 3 Chinese text)

Chinese text：problem awareness; empirical training; independent research; field data; academic assistant; digital labor; smart governance Chinese text：Good afternoon, professors. My name is Lingyan Zhang, and I am an undergraduate student majoring in Finance at the University of International Business and Economics. If I use three phrases to describe myself as a potential researcher, they would be sensitivity to real problems, solid empirical training, and the ability to move a project forward independently.

My academic interest gradually expanded from finance to applied microeconomics. The most important turning point was my independent paper on environmental regulation and the job allocation of college graduates. Using repeated cross-sectional survey data from 2009 to 2019, I examined the impact of the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan. The baseline result showed that graduates from key control regions became more likely to enter pollution-related industries after the policy.

This finding was different from the common story of a green escape. I therefore asked a further question: what kinds of compensation or job opportunities might firms provide to attract graduates? I then explored starting salaries, occupational structure, job matching, and geographic mobility.

This experience taught me that an unexpected result can be the beginning of a better research question.

I also participated in a high-school field project on peer effects. My work included matching student background information, questionnaires, exam records, and seating charts, and helping construct peer-performance measures based on classroom distance. The work was detailed and sometimes repetitive, but it gave me a much clearer understanding of how credible empirical research is built from the bottom up. In addition, serving as an academic assistant for the Investment course improved my communication skills and my sense of responsibility.

These experiences led me to a question that I hope to study in the future: how do digital technologies, especially artificial intelligence and digital platforms, change labor demand, job matching, skill formation, and access to public services? I believe this question requires both economic analysis and a serious understanding of governance. The School of Smart Governance brings together applied economics, digital economy, data methods, and real governance scenarios. Its interdisciplinary and problem-oriented training is highly consistent with the kind of researcher I hope to become. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.

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2. Could you briefly introduce your hometown?

Chinese text：Fuzhou; banyan trees; greenery; relaxed pace; walkable; sense of calm Chinese text：I come from Fuzhou, the capital city of Fujian Province. What I like most about the city is its greenery. There are many old banyan trees, and even ordinary streets can feel calm and comfortable. The pace of life is relatively relaxed, so walking is a very pleasant way to experience the city.

Fuzhou also has a strong local food culture, especially dishes with light and fresh flavors. For me, my hometown is more than a place of birth. It is a place where I can slow down, clear my mind, and regain energy after a busy period.

3. Please introduce your university.

Chinese text U.I.B.E; economics and finance; international perspective; rigorous training; research opportunities Chinese text：I study at the University of International Business and Economics. The university is well known for its strengths in economics, finance, and international studies. What I value most is that the academic environment combines solid theoretical training with close attention to real economic issues. During my undergraduate years, I received systematic training in economics, finance, and quantitative methods, and I also had opportunities to join research projects and academic discussions. The university helped me develop a broader international perspective, but more importantly, it taught me to analyze practical problems with clear economic logic and empirical evidence.

4. What are your main strengths?

Chinese text：problem awareness; empirical discipline; independence; revision; persistence Chinese text：My first strength is problem awareness. When a result is unexpected, I tend to ask what economic mechanism may lie behind it instead of treating it as a simple statistical outcome. My second strength is empirical discipline. I am willing to spend time cleaning data, checking variable definitions, and testing alternative explanations. My third strength is independence. In my paper on environmental regulation and graduate employment, I completed most of the research process on my own, from the literature review and research design to the empirical analysis and writing. At the same time, I am willing to revise my work repeatedly after receiving criticism.

5. What is your greatest weakness?

Chinese text+Chinese text：perfectionism; over-editing; prioritize; time limit; research validity Chinese text：My main weakness is that I sometimes pursue perfection too early. For example, when writing a paper, I may spend too much time polishing a paragraph or checking a result that is already stable, while more important tasks are still waiting. I have realized that this can reduce my overall efficiency. Now I divide revisions into different levels. I first deal with issues that affect identification and the validity of the research, and then improve presentation and language. I also set a clear time limit for each round of revision. This approach has helped me keep high standards without getting trapped in minor details.

6. Could you tell us something about your family?

Chinese text：supportive; uncertainty; independent planning; emotional regulation; focus on controllable tasks Chinese text：My family is supportive of my decision to pursue doctoral study. Like many parents, they sometimes worry about uncertainty and long-term career choices. Growing up in an environment where people often planned far ahead also encouraged me to learn how to manage pressure by myself. During college, I gradually learned to separate real problems from imagined worries and to focus on the tasks that I can control. This experience has made me more independent and emotionally stable. I also try to communicate my plans clearly with my family, so their support is based on mutual understanding.

7. What are your hobbies?

Chinese text+Chinese text：reading; public account; social issues; observation; writing; walking Chinese text：My main hobbies are reading and writing. I run a small public account where I share my thoughts on novels and social issues. Writing for a general audience forces me to explain an idea clearly instead of hiding behind technical terms. I also enjoy walking with friends. It may sound simple, but walking gives me time to relax and often leads to very honest conversations. These hobbies help me maintain a balance between academic work and daily life. They also keep me sensitive to how ordinary people understand and experience social change.

8. What kind of person do you think you are? Choose three words.

Chinese text：curious, analytical, persistent；Chinese text：curious; analytical; persistent; mechanism; evidence; revision Chinese text：I would describe myself as curious, analytical, and persistent. I am curious because I often continue asking why after seeing an empirical result, especially when it does not fit the existing story. I am analytical because I like to break a broad problem into testable mechanisms and look for evidence step by step. I am persistent because research rarely works perfectly at the beginning. Whether I am matching different datasets or revising a paper after criticism, I can stay with the problem for a long time. I believe these qualities are especially important for doctoral training.

9. Do your family members support your decision to pursue a PhD?

Chinese text：support; long training; uncertainty; informed decision; research experience Chinese text：Yes, my family supports my decision. They understand that doctoral training is long and demanding, so they also have reasonable concerns about uncertainty. I have explained to them that this is not an impulsive choice. I have already experienced the less exciting parts of research, including data cleaning, failed specifications, and repeated revision, and I still want to continue. I also have a clear plan to strengthen my theory, methods, and academic writing. Their support gives me confidence, while their concerns remind me to make responsible and realistic choices.

10. What is your favorite book?

Chinese text：Dream of the Red Chamber; complex characters; social structure; observation; human relationships Chinese text：My favorite book is Dream of the Red Chamber. What attracts me most is not only its beautiful language, but also its extremely careful observation of people and social relationships. Almost every character has mixed motivations, and small details in family life reveal a much larger social structure. The novel reminds me that human behavior cannot always be explained by a single reason.

This is also meaningful for social science research. Behind a statistical pattern, there are often different groups, constraints, and choices. I have reread parts of the novel many times, and each time I notice something new.

11. What is your favorite movie?

Chinese text：La La Land; dreams; trade-offs; growth; bittersweet; choices Chinese text：My favorite movie is La La Land. I like it because it presents dreams in a beautiful but realistic way. The two main characters support each other and grow together, but their choices also lead them in different directions. The ending is bittersweet, and that is exactly why it is memorable. It shows that a meaningful experience does not have to end perfectly. Sometimes people change our lives even if they do not stay with us forever. The movie makes me think about ambition, relationships, and the trade-offs that come with important life choices.

12. What kind of exercise do you like?

Chinese text：walking; sustainable habit; clear my mind; conversation; daily routine Chinese text：I enjoy walking, especially with close friends. It is not an intensive sport, but it is the form of exercise that I can maintain most consistently. After sitting for a long time to read or work with data, walking helps me clear my mind and reduce physical tension. Conversations during a walk are also more relaxed and open. Sometimes a problem that seems complicated at the desk becomes much clearer after twenty or thirty minutes outside. For me, the best exercise is not necessarily the most difficult one, but the one that can become part of everyday life.

13. What is your favorite food?

Chinese text：Fuzhou cuisine; taro paste; sweet; smooth texture; hometown memory Chinese text：My favorite food is taro paste, a traditional dessert in Fuzhou cuisine. It is made from mashed taro and usually has a smooth texture and a gentle sweetness. It may look simple, but the preparation requires patience because the texture is very important. I like it partly because of its taste and partly because it reminds me of family meals and my hometown. When I return to Fuzhou after a busy semester, having familiar local food gives me a strong sense of comfort and belonging.

14 ' Chinese text：Suzhou; classical gardens; spatial design; nature; traditional aesthetics; daily life Chinese text：I would like to visit Suzhou again. I am especially interested in its classical gardens. What impresses me is how a limited space can create a rich experience through windows, corridors, water, plants, and changing views. The gardens show a very subtle relationship between architecture and nature. I also like the fact that traditional culture is still visible in the daily life of the city. Suzhou feels elegant but not distant. Since I am applying to study there, I also hope to understand the city beyond its tourist attractions and observe its digital economy and urban governance in real life.

15. What is your favorite city?

Chinese text+Chinese text：Fuzhou; familiar; livable; banyan trees; relaxed atmosphere; belonging Chinese text：My favorite city is Fuzhou. I may not be completely objective because it is my hometown, but I genuinely appreciate its livable atmosphere. The city has many banyan trees, good greenery, and a relatively relaxed pace. It is possible to enjoy a quiet walk even in central areas. I also like the balance between mountains, rivers, and urban neighborhoods. Compared with cities that constantly push people to move faster, Fuzhou gives me a stronger sense of space and calm. It is the city where I feel most familiar, grounded, and emotionally connected.

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16. Have you participated in any social activities or student work?

Chinese text：academic assistant; Investment; answer questions; organize materials; responsibility; communication Chinese text：Yes. One meaningful experience was serving as an academic assistant for the Investment course. I helped organize learning materials, answered classmates' questions, and supported the communication between the teacher and students. The work required more than knowing the correct answer. Different students could be confused by different steps, so I had to understand where their reasoning went wrong and explain the same concept in several ways. This experience improved my communication skills and sense of responsibility. It also showed me that teaching and helping others can deepen my own understanding of a subject.

17. What have you learned from your student work experience?

Chinese text+Chinese text+Chinese text：reliability; service; explanation; patience; follow-through Chinese text：The most important lesson is that reliability is built through small actions. As an academic assistant, I needed to respond to questions on time, check information carefully, and make sure that students received consistent messages. I also learned that communication is not simply speaking more. A useful explanation should start from the other person's confusion and use the simplest possible logic. Finally, I became more patient. Some questions may look repetitive, but they are real difficulties for the person asking them. This experience will also help me in future teamwork and teaching responsibilities.

18. Talk about a person who has impressed you most during university.

Chinese text+Chinese text：Professor Tan Ya; social relevance; rigorous methods; broad agenda; research supervision;

revision

Chinese text：The person who has influenced me most is Professor Tan Ya, my research supervisor. Her research covers regional, urban, and education economics, and she studies a wide range of real social issues with rigorous empirical methods. What impressed me is that a broad research agenda can still have a clear intellectual core: serious concern for society and careful identification. She supervised both my independent paper and my work in the high-school field project. Through her feedback, I learned that a good researcher should be open to unexpected results, strict about evidence, and willing to revise a seemingly complete story. I hope to become a scholar with the same concern for reality.

19. What has been your greatest success or sense of achievement in college?

Chinese text：independent paper; unexpected finding; mechanism; persistence; research question Chinese text：My greatest sense of achievement came from developing my independent paper on environmental regulation and graduate employment. At first, the baseline result was confusing because graduates from key control regions became more likely to enter pollution-related industries after the policy. I did not want to present it as an isolated coefficient. I continued to examine starting salaries, occupational structure, job matching, and mobility, and gradually developed a more coherent explanation from the firm side. The paper still has limitations, but the process gave me confidence that I can turn an unexpected result into a meaningful research question and move a project forward independently.

20. Talk about a failed or frustrating experience.

Chinese text：early draft; significance; mechanism; selection; firm demand; revise Chinese text：One frustrating experience occurred in an early version of my paper. I focused too much on whether the coefficients were statistically significant and did not clearly separate worker selection from firm demand. As a result, the empirical tables looked complete, but the economic story was not convincing. After receiving criticism, I reorganized the paper around a clearer question and added evidence on wages, job types, and firm-side changes. This experience taught me that statistical significance is only the beginning. A good empirical paper also needs a credible mechanism, careful interpretation, and a clear explanation of what the evidence can and cannot prove.

21. What was the most difficult research task you have completed?

Chinese text：data matching; survey; exam records; seating charts; variable dictionary; spatial weights; validation Chinese text：The most difficult task was matching several sources of data in a high-school field project. We needed to combine student background information, questionnaires, repeated exam records, and seating charts. The identifiers and variable definitions were not always consistent, and seating arrangements could change over time. I first helped build a clear variable dictionary and checked the matching process class by class. We then constructed peer-performance measures, including spatially weighted measures based on classroom distance. The task was detailed and time-consuming, but it taught me that credible empirical results depend heavily on careful data construction before any regression is run.

22. Please introduce your undergraduate major.

Chinese text：Finance; allocation of capital; risk; information; incentives; quantitative methods Chinese text：My undergraduate major is Finance. In my understanding, finance studies how capital is allocated across time, people, and projects under uncertainty. Its core questions involve risk, information, incentives, and the pricing of future cash flows. The major gave me training in microeconomics, macroeconomics, investment, financial markets, and quantitative methods. Although my current research interests extend beyond financial markets, the training is still highly relevant. It taught me to think carefully about incentives, selection, and resource allocation, which are also central to labor economics, digital economy, and public governance.

23. Why did you choose Finance as your undergraduate major?

Chinese text：real economy; quantitative analysis; markets; incentives; broader social questions Chinese text：I chose Finance because I was interested in how economic decisions are made under uncertainty and how markets connect individual choices with the broader economy. At the beginning, I was mainly attracted by financial markets and quantitative analysis. As I studied further, I became more interested in the underlying questions of incentives, information, and resource allocation. Research experience then led me to broader social issues, such as employment, education, environmental policy, and digital transformation. Therefore, finance was an important starting point. It provided analytical tools and gradually helped me identify the questions that I want to study in applied economics.

24. Why are you applying for a different field from your undergraduate major?

Chinese text：continuity; applied economics; incentives; empirical methods; digital governance; labor market Chinese text：I see this choice as an extension of my undergraduate training. Finance provided me with economic intuition, quantitative methods, and a strong interest in incentives and resource allocation. Through research, the questions that attracted me became broader. I began to care about how public policy affects employment, how peers influence educational outcomes, and how digital technologies change firms and workers. These are applied economic questions with important governance implications. The School of Smart Governance allows me to keep using economic methods while developing a deeper understanding of digital technology, institutions, and public policy.

25. What is your favorite course?

Chinese text：Econometrics; identification; testable hypothesis; causal inference; assumptions Chinese text：My favorite course is Econometrics. What I like most is that it teaches us how to turn a broad social question into a testable hypothesis and how to distinguish correlation from causality. The most valuable part is not memorizing estimators, but understanding the assumptions behind them. When I worked on my own paper, concepts such as treatment, counterfactual, fixed effects, and parallel trends became much more concrete.

Econometrics also taught me to remain cautious. A sophisticated model cannot compensate for a weak research design. This way of thinking has strongly influenced how I approach research.

Chinese text：Which course on your transcript also represents you well?

答: Investment is another important course for me. I ranked near the top of the class and later served as an academic assistant, which deepened both my understanding and communication skills.

26. What is your relationship with your recommender?

Chinese text+Chinese text：research supervisor; independent paper; field project; research design; feedback; long-term interaction Chinese text：Professor Tan Ya is my research supervisor. She has guided my independent paper on environmental regulation and graduate employment, and she also supervises the high-school field project in which I participate. Our interaction goes beyond a single course. I report research progress, discuss identification and interpretation, and revise my work based on her feedback. She is familiar with both my strengths and the areas where I still need improvement. I invited her to recommend me because she has observed how I deal with data, unexpected results, criticism, and long-term research tasks.

27. What books or news do you usually read?

Chinese text+Chinese text：fiction; policy analysis; Fifteenth Five-Year Plan; labor; digital economy; public account Chinese text：My reading has two main parts. The first is literature, especially Chinese novels. I enjoy reading slowly and paying attention to characters and social relationships. The second is policy and economic analysis. Recently, I have been reading books and reports about China's Fifteenth Five-Year Plan, including discussions by scholars such as Cai Fang and Zhu Keli. I pay particular attention to employment, demographic change, digital economy, and public services. I also follow reliable news and policy releases. After reading, I sometimes write short articles on my public account, which helps me organize my views and explain complex issues more clearly.

28. How well do you know Stata, Python, or other software?

Chinese text：Stata Chinese text，Python Chinese text，Excel Chinese text R Chinese text：Stata; D.I.D; panel regression; Python; web scraping; cleaning; Excel; data matching Chinese text：I am most comfortable with Stata and Python. I use Stata for empirical analysis, including panel regressions, repeated cross-sectional D.I.D, event-study specifications, heterogeneity analysis, and robustness checks. I use Python mainly for data cleaning, web scraping, and processing larger or less structured datasets. Excel is also important in my field-project work because many matching and manual verification tasks require careful checking. I have basic exposure to R, but it is not yet my strongest tool. I see software as a means to answer research questions, so I try to understand both the code and the economic logic behind each step.

29. Please introduce an economic theory that you are familiar with.

Chinese text：compensating wage differentials; undesirable job attributes; wages; non-wage benefits; worker heterogeneity Chinese text：One theory I am familiar with is compensating wage differentials. The basic idea is that jobs have both desirable and undesirable attributes. When a job involves higher risk, worse conditions, or other disadvantages, firms may need to offer higher wages or better non-wage benefits to attract workers. The size of the compensation also depends on worker preferences and outside options. This theory is relevant to my paper because the higher probability of graduates entering pollution-related industries may be related to salary, professional positions, stability, or other job characteristics. However, the theory is only a possible mechanism, so it must be tested with detailed evidence rather than assumed. Chinese text：Can you give another theory related to your future interest?

答：Skill-biased technological change explains how new technologies can raise the relative demand for workers with complementary skills while reducing demand for routine tasks. It is useful for analyzing A.I and labor-market inequality.

30. Please briefly introduce one of your research projects.

Chinese text：peer effects; classroom seating; panel data; spatially weighted peers; heterogeneity; education economics Chinese text：One project I participated in studies peer effects within high-school cooperative groups. The project combines student background information, questionnaires, exam records, and classroom seating arrangements. My main responsibility was data cleaning and matching. I also helped construct average peer performance and spatially weighted peer measures based on seat distance. During data checks, I explored differences between key and regular classes and between students at different positions in the achievement distribution. This project gave me practical experience with panel data and peer-effect measurement. It also helped me understand how institutional details inside a classroom can shape educational outcomes.

31. Please introduce your paper in about one minute.

Chinese text：Air Pollution Action Plan; graduates; repeated cross-sectional D.I.D; pollution-related industries; wages; job structure Chinese text：My paper studies how environmental regulation affects the job allocation of college graduates. I use the 2013 Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan as a policy shock and combine it with repeated cross-sectional graduate employment surveys from 2009 to 2019. The treatment group is defined by whether a student's home region was included in the key control areas. The baseline result shows that after the policy, treated graduates became more likely to enter pollution-related industries. The effect is stronger among graduates who stay in their home province. Further evidence suggests changes in starting salaries and occupational structure. The paper argues that firm-side adjustment and compensation may influence how graduates are allocated after environmental regulation.

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32. Why did you choose the School of Smart Governance at Renmin University?

Chinese text：interdisciplinary；applied economics；digital technology；governance scenarios；project-based training；Suzhou Chinese text：I chose the School of Smart Governance because my future research question lies at the intersection of economics, technology, and public policy. I want to study how digital technologies reshape labor demand, job matching, skill formation, and access to public services. Economic methods are essential, but understanding data systems, institutions, and governance scenarios is equally important. The School brings together applied economics, digital economy, artificial intelligence, and governance, and it emphasizes scenario-based, project-oriented, and team-based training. Suzhou also provides a rich environment for observing industrial digitalization and urban governance. Among the programs I have considered, this is my first choice because the research fit is the strongest.

33. Which faculty member or research direction interests you most?

Chinese text：Professor Hu Debao; digital economy; industrial digitalization; firm behavior; labor demand; applied research Chinese text：I am particularly interested in Professor Hu Debao's research on smart governance, digital economy, and industrial digitalization. My own interest is more focused on the labor-market consequences of digital transformation, but the firm and industry side is an essential part of that question. For example, when firms adopt A.I or digital systems, they may change their task structure, skill demand, recruitment, and internal organization. I hope to study these changes with applied microeconomic methods. I am also attracted by the School's broader strengths in digital economy, applied quantitative analysis, and real governance scenarios, so I would remain open to interdisciplinary supervision and collaboration.

34. Why do you want to study Smart Governance?

Chinese text：digital transformation; efficiency; fairness; accountability; labor market; public value Chinese text：I want to study smart governance because digital technology is changing both markets and public institutions. It can reduce information costs, improve matching, and make public services more responsive. At the same time, algorithms may create new information asymmetries, shift risks to individuals, and make responsibility harder to identify. Therefore, the important question is not simply whether a technology is advanced, but how it affects efficiency, fairness, and accountability. My specific interest is the labor market: how A.I and digital platforms change tasks, skills, employment opportunities, and access to services. Smart governance provides a framework for connecting these economic outcomes with institutional design.

35. What are your plans during doctoral study?

Chinese text：theory; econometrics; research agenda; seminars; field knowledge; independent papers; collaboration Chinese text：In the first two years, I hope to strengthen my foundation in microeconomic theory, labor economics, digital economy, causal inference, and data methods. I will also read systematically and participate actively in seminars, so that my research questions are connected with the literature. In the middle stage, I hope to develop a coherent research agenda on digital technology and labor markets and complete several well-designed empirical projects. In the later stage, I would focus on improving the quality of my papers, presenting them at conferences, and learning through collaboration. Throughout the program, I also want to improve my academic English and develop the ability to conduct independent research.

36. What is the most important quality for a doctoral student?

Chinese text“intellectual honesty + persistence”Chinese text：intellectual honesty; persistence; unexpected evidence; revise; uncertainty Chinese text：I believe the most important quality is intellectual honesty, supported by persistence. Research often produces results that are unclear or different from our expectations. A doctoral student should be willing to admit what the data cannot prove, check alternative explanations, and revise the original story. Persistence is also necessary because good research requires repeated reading, cleaning, testing, and writing. In my own paper, the baseline finding did not fit the common narrative, so I had to investigate it instead of selecting only convenient evidence. I hope to maintain this attitude throughout doctoral training.

37. What are your research interests?

Chinese text：A.I; digital platforms; labor demand; tasks; skills; job matching; public services; inequality Chinese text：My main research interest is the relationship between digital technology and the labor market. I would like to study it at three levels. First, on the firm side, how do A.I adoption and digital transformation change task structure, recruitment, and skill demand? Second, on the worker side, who can adapt to the changes through education, training, or occupational mobility, and who may face greater risks? Third, on the governance side, can digital public services improve access to employment and training without creating new forms of exclusion? I hope to use applied microeconomic methods to connect these levels and evaluate both efficiency and distributional effects.

38. Why do you want to pursue a PhD?

Chinese text：research process; long-term questions; theory and methods; independent scholar; direct PhD Chinese text：I want to pursue a PhD because I enjoy the process of turning a real social problem into a researchable question and then building evidence step by step. My decision is based on actual research experience, including literature review, data cleaning, empirical design, failed specifications, and repeated revision. I know that research is not always exciting, but I still find the process meaningful. A direct PhD program can provide the continuous theoretical and methodological training needed to develop a long-term research agenda. My goal is to become an independent researcher who can produce credible evidence for important economic and governance questions.

39. What will you do after graduation?

Chinese text：university; policy research; evidence-based policy; labor; digital transformation; public value Chinese text：After graduation, I would prefer to work in a university or a policy research institution. I hope my main responsibility can still involve long-term research, especially on labor markets, digital transformation, and public policy. A university would allow me to combine research with teaching, while a policy institution could provide closer access to real governance problems and administrative data. I am open to the exact position, but the common requirement is important to me: I want to use rigorous evidence to understand social change and contribute to better policy design.

40. How would you evaluate your performance today?

Chinese text：generally satisfied; research experience; concise delivery; improve; reflection Chinese text：Overall, I am generally satisfied with my performance. I think I explained my research experience and motivation honestly, and I tried to respond directly to the questions. At the same time, I noticed that some of my answers could be more concise, especially when I wanted to provide too much background information. I also hope my spoken English can become more natural through further practice. After the interview, I will review which questions were difficult and improve both the content and delivery. Regardless of the result, this interview is a valuable opportunity for reflection.

41. Who is the person you admire most?

Chinese text：Cai Fang; labor economics; demographic change; public policy; clear communication Chinese text：One scholar I admire is Professor Cai Fang. His work connects labor economics, demographic change, and China's long-term development. What I value most is his ability to discuss major structural issues in a way that is both academically grounded and understandable to a broader audience. His research reminds me that labor-market questions are closely connected with education, social security, regional development, and technological change. I also admire his continuing attention to policy reality. I hope that in the future I can maintain rigorous academic standards while communicating research findings clearly to policymakers and the public.

42. What do you usually do when you are in difficulty?

Chinese text：define; decompose; test; seek targeted help; document; reflect Chinese text：When I face a difficulty, I first define the problem as clearly as possible and divide it into smaller parts. Then I check the relevant literature, code, or data and try several solutions by myself. If the problem still remains, I seek help with a specific question and show what I have already tried. For example, in the field project, data from questionnaires, exams, and seating charts could not be matched directly. I documented the inconsistent identifiers and discussed a verification rule with the team instead of asking a vague question. Finally, I record the solution so that the same problem will not be repeated.

43. What other schools or programs have you applied to?

Chinese text：related programs; Renmin University; population; environment; education; first choice; strongest fit Chinese text：I have mainly considered several related programs within Renmin University, especially those connected with population, environment, education, and applied economics. These applications reflect the same broad interest in labor and social policy. However, the School of Smart Governance is my first choice. Its combination of applied economics, digital technology, and governance is the closest match to my current research interest in digital transformation and the labor market. Therefore, if I receive an offer, I would be very willing to join the program and commit myself to the doctoral training here.

44. What would you do if you received another offer?

Chinese text：first choice; research fit; training; accept; commitment Chinese text：I would make the decision based mainly on research fit and the quality of doctoral training. For my current interests, the School of Smart Governance is my first choice because it connects applied economics with digital economy, data methods, and governance scenarios. If I receive an offer from this program, I would accept it and prepare seriously for the transition to doctoral study. I understand that joining a direct PhD program is a long-term commitment, so my decision is based on the research questions I want to pursue rather than only on the name or location of a university.

45. What would you do if you were not admitted?

Chinese text：disappointed; reflect; improve; remain committed; research direction Chinese text：I would certainly feel disappointed because this program is my first choice. However, I would not treat one admission result as a judgment on my long-term research potential. I would review my performance carefully, identify weaknesses in my theoretical preparation, research design, or communication, and continue improving them. My interest in digital technology and labor markets would remain unchanged. I would look for other opportunities to receive rigorous training and keep working on my current research. The result may affect my immediate path, but it would not change my commitment to becoming a serious researcher.

46. Why should we admit you?

Chinese text：problem awareness; empirical experience; independence; fit; potential; openness Chinese text：I believe I can contribute to the program in three ways. First, I am sensitive to real social problems and willing to develop an unexpected result into a deeper research question. Second, I already have practical empirical experience, including repeated cross-sectional D.I.D, panel-data construction, data matching, and independent paper writing. Third, my future interest in digital technology and labor markets fits the School's interdisciplinary orientation. I also understand that I still need stronger theoretical and methodological training. I am ready to accept criticism, work through detailed tasks, and develop patiently. I hope you can evaluate me not only by what I have completed, but also by my research potential and willingness to learn.

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47 A. What is smart governance?

Chinese text：public value; data; algorithms; coordination; feedback; privacy; bias; accountability Chinese text：Smart governance is the use of data, algorithms, and digital platforms to improve public decision-making and service delivery. Its core purpose should be public value, including efficiency, fairness, responsiveness, and trust. Compared with traditional governance, it can collect information more quickly, identify patterns, coordinate different departments, and provide continuous feedback. However, smart governance is not automatically good governance. It may create privacy risks, algorithmic bias, digital exclusion, and unclear responsibility. Therefore, technology should be combined with transparent rules, human oversight, public participation, and effective remedies for people who are negatively affected.

47 B. What is the difference between digital government and smart governance?

Chinese text：digital government; administrative process; smart governance; multiple actors; coordination; public value Chinese text：Digital government mainly refers to the digital transformation of government operations and public services, such as online applications, shared databases, and integrated administrative platforms. Smart governance has a broader meaning. It concerns how government, firms, communities, and citizens use data and intelligent systems to solve public problems together. Therefore, digital government can be an important foundation for smart governance, but smart governance also emphasizes cross-sector coordination, adaptive decision-making, and public participation. The key standard is not how many systems are built, but whether they create better public outcomes while protecting rights and accountability.

48. What are the main trends and social impacts of artificial intelligence?

Chinese text：generative A.I; agents; productivity; task transformation; information; inequality; institutions Chinese text：Artificial intelligence is moving from performing narrow tasks to generating content, supporting decisions, and completing multi-step workflows through intelligent agents. This may increase productivity and lower the cost of knowledge-intensive services. It will also change the content of many jobs. Some routine cognitive tasks may be automated, while demand may rise for judgment, communication, domain knowledge, and human-A.I collaboration. A.I can improve public services, but it may also amplify misinformation, bias, surveillance, and inequality. Its final social impact will depend on how firms use the technology and how education, labor policy, competition policy, and public governance respond.

49. Will artificial intelligence replace human workers?

Chinese text+Chinese text+Chinese text：tasks; substitution; complementarity; new work; transition; reskilling; distribution Chinese text：Al will replace some tasks, but it will not affect all workers in the same way. A job usually contains many tasks. Al may automate routine writing, coding, or data processing, while complementing workers in tasks that require judgment, communication, responsibility, and knowledge of a specific context. It may also create new tasks related to A.I supervision, data management, and human-A.I coordination. The main concern is the transition process. Even if total productivity increases, some workers may lose income or bargaining power. Therefore, policy should support training, mobility, social protection, and technologies that complement human abilities instead of only reducing labor costs.

50. Why is it unwise for university students to rely too heavily on A.I tools?

Chinese text：cognitive offloading; critical thinking; hallucination; responsibility; verification; learning process Chinese text：A.I tools can improve efficiency, but excessive reliance is unwise for university students. First, learning requires active thinking. If students immediately ask A.I to summarize, write, or solve every problem, they may lose the chance to build their own reasoning and writing skills. Second, A.I can generate confident but inaccurate information, so users need enough knowledge to verify the answer. Third, students remain responsible for academic integrity and the final content. A better approach is to use A.I after independent thinking: for example, to compare explanations, check language, or generate questions, while keeping evidence verification and final judgment in human hands.

51. Does the digital economy necessarily improve resource allocation?

Chinese text：information costs; matching; scale economies; market power; self-preferencing; privacy; digital divide Chinese text：The digital economy can improve resource allocation, but the effect is conditional. Data and algorithms can reduce information costs, improve matching between buyers and sellers, and raise the productivity of other inputs. Digital platforms can also create scale economies and expand market access. However, the same mechanisms may strengthen market power. A dominant platform may favor its own services, exclude competitors, or transfer privacy and algorithmic risks to users. Digital technologies can also widen gaps between regions, firms, and workers with different capabilities. Therefore, better allocation requires competition policy, data governance, consumer protection, and inclusive digital infrastructure.

52. How do you understand the platform economy?

Chinese text app Chinese text：multi-sided market; network effects; matching; rule-setting; market power; gig workers Chinese text：The platform economy is based on digital intermediaries that connect different groups, such as consumers, sellers, workers, and advertisers. Its value comes from matching, lower transaction costs, and network effects: a platform may become more useful as more participants join. At the same time, the platform is not a neutral marketplace. It designs ranking rules, commissions, access conditions, and dispute procedures. When market power becomes concentrated, the platform may engage in self-preferencing, impose unfair terms, or transfer risks to gig workers and small businesses. Governance should protect innovation while ensuring competition, transparency, labor rights, and effective appeal mechanisms.

53. What does it mean to treat data as a factor of production?

Chinese text：data factor; non-rivalry; reuse; productivity; privacy; access rights; value distribution Chinese text：Treating data as a factor of production means recognizing that data can improve prediction, coordination, and the productivity of labor and capital. However, data are different from traditional factors. They can often be copied and reused, and their value may increase when different datasets are combined. At the same time, data may contain personal information and may be produced jointly by users, firms, and public institutions. Therefore, data governance cannot rely only on simple ownership. It should clarify rights of access, use, control, benefit, and responsibility, while protecting privacy and preventing excessive concentration of data resources.

54. How should artificial intelligence be governed?

Chinese text：risk-based regulation; impact assessment; testing; human oversight; audit; appeal; accountability Chinese text：Al governance should follow the entire life cycle of a system. Before deployment, high-risk applications should undergo impact assessment, data-compliance checks, safety testing, and clear risk classification. During operation, important decisions should include human oversight, logging, content labeling when necessary, continuous monitoring, and independent auditing. After harm occurs, users need accessible appeal and correction channels, and responsibility should be traceable among developers, deployers, and users. In the long run, A.I governance should also include competition policy, worker training, public-service inclusion, and international coordination. The goal is to make innovation reliable and socially beneficial.

55. What are the benefits and risks of digital public services?

Chinese text+Chinese text：one-stop services; transaction costs; proactive service; digital exclusion; automated denial; human fallback Chinese text：Digital public services can reduce travel and waiting time, integrate information across departments, and make services more responsive. With appropriate data sharing, government may even identify eligible citizens and provide services proactively. However, digitalization can exclude older people, people with disabilities, or those with limited digital skills. Data errors may also lead to automatic rejection, and citizens may not know how to challenge a decision. Therefore, online services should keep offline and human channels, minimize unnecessary data collection, explain important decisions, and provide accessible correction and appeal procedures.

56. How do you understand the low-altitude economy and its governance?

Chinese text：drones; eevee toll; logistics; emergency response; airspace; safety; privacy; liability; coordination Chinese text：The low-altitude economy includes economic activities based on drones, electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, and related services. It may improve logistics, emergency response, agricultural monitoring, infrastructure inspection, and urban mobility. However, its development depends heavily on governance. Authorities need clear airspace rules, real-time traffic management, technical safety standards, privacy protection, noise control, and liability arrangements for accidents. Different departments must also share information and coordinate decisions. A useful approach is to test new applications in limited scenarios, evaluate risks with real data, and gradually expand them when safety and public acceptance are demonstrated.

57. How should we understand government use of A.I to identify or intercept petitioners?

Chinese text：public power; legitimate expression; due process; proportionality; data minimization; audit; appeal Chinese text：Al may help government identify repeated complaints, allocate cases, and detect urgent risks. However, using it to intercept or suppress lawful petitioning would create serious problems. Petitioning is an important channel for citizens to express grievances and correct administrative failures. Public power should follow legality, necessity, and proportionality. Data collection must be limited, risk labels should not automatically determine action, and important decisions need human review. Citizens should know how their data are used and have channels to challenge errors. Independent auditing and clear responsibility are necessary because technology cannot replace due process or legitimate public participation.

58. Give an example of smart governance in practice.

Chinese text+Chinese text：traffic governance; real-time data; prediction; cross-department coordination; privacy; human judgment Chinese text：Traffic governance is a clear example. In the past, authorities often reacted after congestion or an accident had already occurred, and information was separated among traffic police, hospitals, street offices, and public-transport agencies. With smart governance, cameras, road sensors, navigation data, and emergency information can be combined to identify the source of congestion and coordinate a faster response. The system may also predict high-risk locations and adjust signals in advance. However, data collection must protect privacy, algorithms should be checked for errors, and human professionals must retain the ability to act when the system fails.

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59. Please introduce an English paper you have read.

Chinese text Autor 2015 Chinese text A.I Chinese text：David Autor; automation; tasks; substitution; complementarity; job polarization Chinese text：One paper that has strongly influenced my thinking is David Autor's essay, Why Are There Still So Many Jobs? The paper asks why automation has not eliminated most employment. Autor explains that technology can substitute for labor in some tasks, but it can also complement human skills, raise productivity, lower prices, and increase demand in other activities. He emphasizes the task content of jobs and discusses why routine middle-skill occupations are especially exposed, which contributes to job polarization. The paper reminds me that the effect of A.I should not be discussed only at the occupation level. We need to examine which tasks are replaced, which are strengthened, and how workers and institutions adjust.

Chinese text：What is one limitation of the paper?

答：It is mainly a conceptual and historical essay written before the recent wave of generative A.I, so its framework remains useful, but new evidence is needed for technologies that can perform a wider range of cognitive tasks.

60. Please introduce a recent policy issue you have followed.

Chinese textAI, Chinese text：Fifteenth Five-Year Plan; demographic change; A.I; productivity; employment; public services Chinese text：Recently, I have paid attention to discussions about the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan, especially the relationship among demographic change, artificial intelligence, productivity, and employment. China faces both a need to improve productivity and a need to protect employment quality during technological transformation. A.I may help firms and public services operate more efficiently, but its benefits may be uneven across workers, regions, and firms. In my view, policy should combine innovation support with vocational training, social protection, competition policy, and more inclusive public services. This issue is closely related to my research interest because it connects long-term development with individual labor-market outcomes.

61. How would you explain your research to a non-economist?

Chinese text D.I.D Chinese text+Chinese text：plain language; comparison; policy change; graduates; firms; job choices Chinese text：My research asks a simple question: when environmental rules become stricter, how do the job opportunities of new college graduates change? I compare graduates from regions that were strongly affected by a major air-pollution policy with graduates from other regions, before and after the policy. I find that graduates from the affected regions became more likely to enter industries related to heavy pollution, especially when they stayed in their home province. This may sound surprising. One possible explanation is that firms adjusted their technology and job structure and offered better pay or more professional positions to attract skilled workers. The study shows that environmental policy can reshape labor markets in unexpected ways.

62. What would you do if you were asked a question you did not know? Chinese text：knowledge boundary; framework; assumptions; evidence; honest Chinese text：If I do not know the exact answer, I would first clarify the question and honestly state the boundary of my knowledge. Then I would try to provide a basic analytical framework based on what I know. For example, I might discuss the possible mechanisms, affected groups, and trade-offs, while making my assumptions clear. I would avoid inventing facts or citing studies that I cannot remember accurately. If the question is empirical, I would also explain what kind of data or evidence would be needed. I believe a clear and honest partial answer is better than a confident but unreliable one.

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P.1. What is the main research question of your paper?

Chinese text：environmental regulation; graduate employment allocation; industry choice; firm adjustment Chinese text：The main question is whether stricter environmental regulation changes the industry allocation of college graduates. More specifically, I examine whether graduates from key control regions became more or less likely to enter pollution-related industries after the 2013 Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan. After finding a positive effect, I further ask what firm-side adjustments may explain it, including starting salaries, occupational structure, job matching, and changes in capital intensity. The paper therefore connects environmental policy with the allocation of newly educated labor.

P.2. Why is this question important?

Chinese text：green transition; human capital; job quality; allocation; unintended effects Chinese text：The question is important because environmental policy may affect more than pollution and firm output. It can also change where skilled workers are employed and what types of jobs firms create. College graduates are at an important transition point, so their first job may have long-term effects on skills, wages, and career paths.

Existing discussions often emphasize employment losses or workers leaving polluted areas. My paper focuses on the allocation and quality of new graduate employment. This helps us understand the broader and sometimes unintended labor-market effects of the green transition.

P.3. What data do you use?

Chinese text P.K.U Chinese text 2009 to 2019 Chinese text：graduate employment survey; 2009 to 2019; repeated cross-sections; individual and job characteristics Chinese text：I use repeated cross-sectional data from the national survey of college graduate employment conducted in alternating years from 2009 to 2019. The data contain individual characteristics, educational background, home region, university and major information, employment location, industry, occupation, starting salary, and job satisfaction. Because the survey does not follow the same person over time, it is not individual panel data. I use the repeated cross-sections to compare similar groups of graduates across policy periods and regions.

P.4. Why do you use a repeated cross-sectional D.I.D design?

Chinese text D.I.D Chinese text：repeated cross-sectional D.I.D; treatment group; post period; group-level changes; fixed effects Chinese text：The policy created variation across regions and time, while my data provide different samples of graduates in each survey year. Therefore, a repeated cross-sectional D.I.D is appropriate. I define the treatment group by whether a graduate's home region was included in the key control areas and compare the change after 2013 with the change in other regions. The design estimates changes in average outcomes for comparable groups rather than changes within the same individuals. I include individual controls and fixed effects for year, university, major, and work province to reduce compositional differences and common shocks.

P.5. Why do you define treatment by home region rather than work region?

Chinese text：home region; predetermined; local networks; migration; endogenous work location Chinese text：I use the home region because it is determined before the graduate makes the current employment choice, while the work region is itself an outcome of job search and migration. The policy may affect local firms, family information, internship channels, and employment networks that graduates from the region face. Using the work region directly could create stronger endogeneity because graduates choose where to work. At the same time, home region is not a perfect measure of exposure. I therefore examine whether graduates stay in their home province and find that the effect is stronger among stayers, which is consistent with a local labor-market channel.

P.6. What is your main finding?

Chinese text：positive effect; pollution-related industries; local stayers; allocation; interpretation Chinese text：The main finding is that after the policy, graduates from key control regions became more likely to enter pollution-related industries. The effect is stronger for those who remain in their home province. This does not mean that environmental regulation increases pollution. It means that the policy changes the composition of jobs and workers within affected industries. Further results suggest that treated graduates may receive higher starting salaries in some groups and are more likely to enter professional and technical positions rather than lower-end manual jobs. These patterns are consistent with firm adjustment and changes in labor demand.

P.7. Why is the finding surprising?

Chinese text：green escape; high-skilled labor; compliance costs; compensation; labor demand Chinese text：The result is surprising because a common expectation is that stricter regulation or pollution exposure may push skilled workers away from affected industries or regions. This is sometimes described as a green escape. My result points in the opposite direction for new graduates. Therefore, I consider the firm side. Environmental regulation may induce capital upgrading, technical positions, or stronger demand for educated workers. Firms may also provide higher wages, better job matching, or greater stability. The surprising result is valuable because it encourages a broader analysis of how firms and workers jointly adjust during a green transition.

P.8. What mechanisms do you examine?

Chinese text：starting salary; occupational upgrading; job matching; satisfaction; capital deepening Chinese text：I examine several possible mechanisms. First, I look at starting salaries to see whether firms provide monetary compensation. Second, I examine occupational structure and find a decline in lower-end manual positions and an increase in professional and technical positions. Third, I study major-job matching and satisfaction, which may capture non-wage job quality. Finally, I use additional firm-side evidence to explore whether capital deepening increases with a lag after regulation. These results support a story of technology and labor-demand adjustment, but I would describe them as suggestive evidence rather than a complete causal decomposition of the mechanism.

P.9. How do you test the parallel-trends assumption?

Chinese text：event study; pre-trends; dynamic effects; lagged adjustment; confidence intervals Chinese text：I estimate an event-study specification using survey years before and after the policy. The coefficients before 2013 are used to examine whether the treatment and comparison groups had different trends before the policy. They are generally close to zero and statistically insignificant, which supports the parallel-trends assumption, although it cannot prove it completely. The post-policy effect appears with a lag, especially in later survey years. This dynamic pattern is economically plausible because firms need time to invest, reorganize production, and adjust their recruitment and occupational structure.

P.10. What are the main threats to identification?

Chinese text：concurrent policies; composition; migration; industry trends; omitted variables; robustness Chinese text：The main threats include other regional policies introduced around the same time, changes in the composition of surveyed graduates, endogenous migration, and different pre-existing industry trends across regions. I address these concerns by including rich individual controls and fixed effects for year, university, major, and work province, and by examining dynamic pre-trends. I also conduct robustness checks with alternative samples and definitions and study stayers separately. However, regional policy evaluation can rarely eliminate every concern, so I remain cautious and discuss possible confounding factors as an important limitation.

P.11. What heterogeneity do you find?

Chinese text：male; bachelor; non-elite universities; local stayers; bargaining power; outside options Chinese text：The effect is stronger among male graduates, bachelor's-degree holders, graduates from non-elite universities, and those who stay in their home province. These differences may reflect heterogeneous outside options, mobility costs, local networks, and firm demand. For example, graduates from less elite universities may be more responsive to improved professional positions or salary offers in local industries. The stronger effect among stayers supports a local labor-market channel. However, I treat these interpretations cautiously because subgroup results may have several explanations and statistical power is lower in smaller samples.

P.12. What is the contribution of your paper?

Chinese text：environmental policy; graduate allocation; job quality; occupational structure; firm adaptation Chinese text：The paper makes three main contributions. First, it connects environmental regulation with the employment allocation of college graduates, a group whose first-job choices have long-term consequences. Second, it moves beyond total employment and examines job quality, including starting salary, occupational structure, matching, and satisfaction. Third, the positive effect on entry into pollution-related industries provides a different perspective from the common green-escape narrative and highlights firm adaptation. The paper suggests that regulation may accelerate changes in technology and skilled-labor demand within affected industries.

P.13. What are the main limitations?

Chinese text：repeated cross-section; no individual tracking; unmatched firm data; industry classification; mechanism Chinese text：The first limitation is that the data are repeated cross-sections, so I cannot track the same graduates over time or observe their long-term career paths. Second, the graduate survey cannot be directly matched with the employing firms, which limits my ability to identify firm-side mechanisms precisely. Third, the definition of pollution-related industries is relatively broad and may hide important differences within industries. Finally, the mechanism evidence is suggestive rather than fully identified. Future work could use matched employer-employee data, firm recruitment information, or more detailed occupational tasks to address these limitations.

P.14. What would you do next to improve the paper?

Chinese text：firm recruitment; technical workers; capital upgrading; matched data; labor demand; worker selection Chinese text：My next step is to strengthen the firm-side evidence. I would like to examine recruitment information, the share of technical workers, capital upgrading, and changes in job tasks within affected firms or industries. If possible, I would match graduate outcomes with local firm data or online vacancy data. I also want to use more detailed industry and occupation classifications and distinguish more clearly between worker selection and changes in labor demand. In addition, following graduates for a longer period would help determine whether the first-job effect persists or only reflects a temporary adjustment after the policy.

P.15. What policy implications can be drawn from your findings?

Chinese text：green transition; skilled labor; training; job information; worker protection; policy coordination Chinese text：The findings suggest that environmental policy should be evaluated together with labor-market adjustment. Regulation may create new demand for technical and professional workers within traditional industries, so education and training systems should help workers develop relevant skills. Better job information can also improve matching during industrial upgrading.

At the same time, higher wages or professional positions should not substitute for occupational health protection. The result should not be interpreted as encouraging graduates to enter polluted jobs. Instead, it shows that green transition requires coordination among environmental policy, industrial upgrading, workforce training, and worker protection.

P.16. How is your paper related to smart governance?

Chinese text：policy implementation; environmental monitoring; cross-department data; distributional effects; adaptive governance Chinese text：The paper is related to smart governance in two ways. First, modern environmental regulation increasingly depends on monitoring data, information platforms, and coordination among environmental, industrial, and labor departments. Second, the paper shows that a policy can create indirect and distributional effects beyond its original target.

Smart governance should therefore evaluate not only whether pollution falls, but also how firms reorganize and how different workers are affected. Data systems can support this broader evaluation, but the analysis still requires economic theory and credible causal methods. This is exactly the connection between digital tools and public-value-oriented governance that interests me.

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Q.1. What is the difference between correlation and causality?

Correlation means two variables move together. Causality means a change in one variable produces a change in the other under a credible counterfactual. Causal inference therefore requires a research design, not only a significant coefficient.

Q.2. Why is identification important?

Identification explains where the causal variation comes from and why the estimated effect can be separated from other factors. Without clear identification, a complex model may still describe only correlation.

Q.3. What is a good research question?

A good research question is important, specific, answerable with credible evidence, and connected with existing literature. It should also leave room for an economic mechanism rather than only reporting a pattern.

Q.4. How do you choose a research topic?

I usually begin with a real phenomenon or an unexpected empirical pattern, then read the literature to identify what is known, what remains unclear, and whether suitable data and variation are available.

Q.5. Do you prefer individual or team research?

I value both. Independent work helps me develop ownership and judgment, while teamwork provides complementary skills and stronger criticism. The key is to clarify responsibilities and maintain transparent communication.

Q.6. How do you respond to criticism?

I first separate criticism of the work from judgment of the person. Then I identify whether the problem concerns theory, identification, evidence, or presentation, and revise the most fundamental issue first.

Q.7. What is your view of interdisciplinary research?

Interdisciplinary research is useful when the question genuinely requires different knowledge. It should not become a collection of fashionable terms. A clear research question and division of methods are still essential.

Q.8. What is public value?

Public value includes outcomes that matter to society, such as efficiency, fairness, rights, trust, safety, and inclusion. In smart governance, technical performance is only one part of public value.

Q.9. What is algorithmic bias?

Algorithmic bias occurs when a system produces systematically unfair outcomes because of biased data, labels, objectives, or deployment conditions. Technical correction and institutional oversight are both necessary.

Q.10. What is the digital divide?

The digital divide includes unequal access to devices and networks, unequal digital skills, and unequal ability to benefit from digital systems. It can turn service digitalization into a new source of exclusion.

Q.11. What is your understanding of academic integrity?

Academic integrity means accurate citation, transparent data and methods, honest reporting of results, and respect for the limits of evidence. It also includes taking responsibility for work assisted by A.I tools.

Q.12. What question would you like to ask us?

I would like to know how doctoral students in the School develop interdisciplinary research projects in practice, especially how economic questions are connected with data or real governance scenarios under joint supervision.

Table 附录一 summary: A glossary of core professional terms and their English translations. Examples include 智慧治理 as smart governance, 数字政府 as digital government, and 数据要素 as data as a factor of production, covering themes of digital government and the digital economy.

Table 一 summary: A glossary of technical terms translated from Chinese to English, focusing on economics, law, and data analysis. Examples include market terms like network effects and market power, regulatory terms such as independent third-party audit and impact assessment, labor market concepts like skill-biased technological change and job matching, and econometric methods including difference-in-differences, fixed effects, and robustness checks.

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- Chinese text David Author 2015 Why Are There Still So Many Jobs?，Chinese text.

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