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 consumption and labor 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    

Songnian Chen, Xi Wang, Xianbo Zhou, Censored Partial Linear Quantile Regression with Endogeneity, Journal of Econometrics, 2026, 257, 106273.

Xianbo Zhou, Yingming Wu, Yucheng Sun, Consumption Peer Effects among Migrants in China, International Review of Economics and Finance, 2025,103,104485.

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

Xianbo Zhou, Songliang Han, Yinming Wu, Guangsu Zhou, Can a Looser Fertility Policy Reduce Consumption Inequality？Evidence from China's Universal Two-child Policy, Economic Analysis and Policy, 2025, 86: 2132–2153. 

Xiuheng Shen, Yucheng Sun, Xianbo Zhou. The Political Legacy of Disease Control: Evidence from a Polio Vaccination Campaign in China, China Economic Review, 2025, 93, 102447.

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

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

Xianbo Zhou, Lianhua Luo, Ying Tao, Zhewen Pan. Semiparametric Estimation of Nelson-Olson Simultaneous Tobit Model, Communications in Statistics: Simulation and Computation, 2023, 52 (8): 3863-3876.

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

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

Xianbo Zhou and Heyang Li, Interaction and Quadratic Effects in Probit Model with Endogenous Regressors. Economics Letters, 2021, 198, 109695.

Songnian Chen, Xun Lu, Xianbo Zhou, Yahong Zhou, Nonparametric Identification and Estimation of Truncated Regression Models with Heteroskedasticity, Econometric Theory, 2018, 34(3): 543-573. 

Kui-Wai Li, Xianbo Zhou, Zhewen Pan, Cross-country output convergence and Growth--Evidence from Varying Coefficient Nonparametric Method, Economic Modelling, 2016, 55: 32-41.

ChunchaoWang,  Xianbo Zhou, Chenglei 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. 

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

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

Chunchao Wang,  Huahui Lao, 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.

Kui-Wai Li, 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.

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

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

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

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

Xianbo Zhou, 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.

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

Research Grants

Planning Fund Project of Humanities and Social Sciences Research of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China (25YJA790093): "The Two-Wheel Driving Effect of Digital Transformation: Research on the Impact of the Integration of Productive and Non-Productive Activities on Firms’ New-Quality Productivity", 2026/01-2028/12.

The Third Batch of Special Commissioned Projects (Major Projects) under the Guangdong Philosophy and Social Sciences Innovation Program (GD25WTCXGC04): "Research on High-Quality Development of County-Level Economy in Guangdong Province", 2026/01-2029/01.

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.