Xianbo Zhou is a professor in Economics at Lingnan College,SunYat-sen University. His research focuses on econometric theory and its applications. Zhou is particularly interested in the semiparametric and nonparametric estimation of Tobit models and other models with limited dependent variables. His recent research projects also include application of the microeconometric methods to empirical studies on labor and consumption economics, e.g. in analyzing the peer effects of household consumption in China, the effect of information incompleteness on workers' wage, the effect of social norm on individuals' entrepreneurship, and students' performance, etc..

Research Areas

Theoretic econometrics and its applications

Teaching

Advanced Econemetrics (Ph.D); Econometrics (undergraduate); Nonparametric Econometrics; Time Series Analysis; Microeconometrics

Current Research interests

• Semiparametric and nonparametric estimation of Tobit models and other limited dependent variable models

• Nonparametric and semiparametric estimation of panel data models and its applications in growth, inequality, TFP, stochastic frontier analysis, etc.

• Microeconometric application in labor economics, consumption economics, digital economics, innovation and entrepreneurship, education, etc.

Education

PhD in Economics, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2003-2007

Ph.D in Mathematics, Sun Yat-sen University, 1996-1999

Working Experiences

• Professor, Department of Economics, Lingnan (University) College, Sun Yat-sen University, 2010-

• Associate Professor, Department of Economics,  Lingnan (University) College, Sun Yat-sen University, PRC, 2001-2010

• Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Sun Yat-sen University, PRC, 1999-2001

Visiting Experiences

• 2007-2008, Research Fellow, The City University of Hong Kong, HK

• 2012, International Faculty Fellow, Sloan School Management, MIT, USA

Publications    

Sun, Y., X. Zhou, A Common Consumption Pattern in China: Evidence and Mechanism，Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, 2025, 87(1): 26-63.

Lin, J., Y. Zhang, L. Chen, X. Zhou, The Asset Pricing Implications of Ambiguous Central Bank Communication: Evidence from China. Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, 2024, 60(10): 2204-2219.

Zhou, X., Chen, Z. The Impact of Uncertainty Shocks to Consumption under Different Confidence Regimes Based on a Stochastic Uncertainty-in-Mean TVAR Model. Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3032. 

Zhou, X., Y.Sun, Y. Tao, Does Digital Finance Upgrade Trickle-down Consumption Effect in China? Economic Modelling, 2023, 118, 106103, 2023.

Zhou, X. , L. Luo, Y. Tao, Z. Pan. Semiparametric Estimation of Nelson-Olson Simultaneous Tobit Model, Communications in Statistics: Simulation and Computation, 2023, 52 (8): 3863-3876.

Sun, Y., X. Zhou, The Effect of Teacher’s Concurrent Administrative Position on Students' Academic Outcomes: Evidence and Mechanisms, China Economic Review, 2022, 71, 101735: 1-23. 

Pan, Z,  X. Zhou, Y. Zhou, Semiparametric Estimation of a Censored Regression Model subject to Nonparametric Sample Selection. Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, 2022, 40(1): 141-151.

Zhou, X. and H. Li, 2021, Interaction and Quadratic Effects in Probit Model with Endogenous Regressors. Economics Letters, 198 (2021) 109695.

Chen, S. X. Lu, X. Zhou, and Y. Zhou, Nonparametric Identification and Estimation of Truncated Regression Models with Heteroskedasticity, Econometric Theory, 2018, 34(3): 543-573. 

Li, K-W, X. Zhou, and Z. Pan, Cross-country output convergence and Growth_ Evidence from Varying Coefficient Nonparametric Method, Economic Modelling, 2016, 55: 32-41.

Wang, C., X. Zhou, and C. Zhang，The Impact of Social Capital on Wages of Rural Migrants and its Gender Difference in China, Journal of Macromarketing, 2015, 35(2): 202-217. 

Zhou, X. and Z. Pan, Two-step Semiparametric Estimation of the Type-3 Tobit Model, Statistics and Probability Letters, 2015, 105: 96-105. 

Chan, Kenneth S., Xianbo Zhou, Zhewen Pan, The Growth and Inequality Nexus: The Case of China, International  Review of Economics and Finance, 2014, 34: 230–236.

Wang, Chunchao, Huahui Lao, and Xianbo Zhou, The Impact Mechanism of Social Networks on Chinese Rural-urban Migrant Workers’ Behaviour and Wages, Economic and Labour Relations Review, 2014, 25(2): 353–371.

Li, Kui-Wai and Xianbo Zhou, A Nonparametric and Semiparametric Analysis on Inequality and Development: Evidence from OECD and Non-OECD Countries, Economic and Political Studies, 2013, 1(2): 55-79.

Chen, Songnian and Xianbo Zhou, Semiparametric Estimation of a Truncated Regression Model, Journal of Econometrics, 2012, 167 (2): 297-304.

Chen, Songnian and Xianbo Zhou, Semiparametric Estimation of a Bivariate Tobit Model, Journal of Econometrics, 2011, 165: 266-274.

Zhou，Xianbo, Kui-Wai Li, and Qin Li, An Analysis on Technical Efficiency in Post-reform China, China Economic Review, 2011, 22: 357-372.

Zhou, Xianbo and Kui-Wai Li, Inequality and Development: Evidence from Semiparametric Estimation with Panel Data, Economics Letters, 2011,113: 203-207. 

Zhou, Xianbo and Tian Fengping, A Comparative Study on the Health Care and Medical Service Consumption of Urban and Rural Households in China, Journal of Economic Studies, 2011, 38(1): 17-29.

Li, Kui-Wai and Xianbo Zhou, Openness, Domestic Performance and Growth, Economics Letters, 2010, 107: 13-16.

Research Grants

The Major Program of the National Social Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 21ZDA036): “Research on Enhancing the Fundamental Role of Consumption in Economic Development, 2021/06-2024/10.

National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.71773146): “Uncertainty expectation and the correlativity of household asset choices: influence mechanism and simultaneous Tobit analysis”, 2017/01-2021/12.