Nancy Qian

James J. O'Connor Professor
Northwestern University
Kellogg School of Management
MEDS department

I am an empirical economist and research questions about economic development, political economy and economic history. I am particularly interested in long-run development, and the interplay between economics, geography, demography, politics and culture. I co-direct the Global Poverty Research Lab at Northwestern University and founded the independent China Econ Lab.

I am currently writing my first book, Inglorious Nations: The Rise, Fall and Reinvention of Large Civilizations, under contract with the University of Chicago Press, expected publication 2025.