Homepage: Zizhong Yan

Welcome to my homepage

About me

I am Zizhong Yan, an Associate Professor at the Institute for Economic and Social Research (IESR), Jinan University in Guangzhou, China. I received my PhD in Economics from the University of Warwick, where I studied from 2012 to 2018. Before joining IESR, I held research positions at the University of Surrey and the University of Southampton.

My research interests are in econometrics, and labor economics.

I am currently working on panel data methods and network econometrics, with a particular interest in their applications to social and economic questions. I am also interested in applied research on AI and the labor market, as well as topics in the economics of education.

I very much enjoy exchanging research ideas with students, researchers, and anyone interested in similar questions.

Contacts

Address: Office 409, Zengxianzi Science Hall, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.

Email: helloyzz@gmail.com

To prospective students: I am happy to mentor undergraduate students pursuing different career paths, and highly motivated graduate students interested in my research. Welcome to send the CV for consideration.

Links

Github: github.com/zizhongyan

Book: 《Python Programming for Econometrics》

Faculty homepage: English version, Chinese version

Research

Publications

[1] "Empowering Mothers and Enhancing Early Childhood Investment: Effect on Adults Outcomes and Children Cognitive and Non-Cognitive Skills", with Victor Lavy, and Giulia Lotti, (2022), Journal of Human Resources.
[Link to the paper], [Stata Software]
[2] "Higher education expansion and crime: New evidence from China", with Xingfei Liu, and Chuhong Wang, and Yi Zhao, (2022), China Economic Review.
[Link to the paper]
[3] "Temporary vs. Permanent Migration: The Impact on Expenditure Patterns of Households Left Behind", with Xingfei Liu, and Chuhong Wang, (2021), Review of Economics of the Households.
[Link to the paper]
[4] "Heap: A Command for Estimating Discrete Outcome Variable Models in the Presence of Heaping at Known Points", with Wiji Arulampalan, Valentina Corradi, and Daniel Gutknecht, (2020), The Stata Journal.
[Link to the paper]

Working Paper

[1] "Penalized Likelihood for Dyadic Network Formation Models with Degree Heterogeneity ". with Jingrong Li, and Yi Zhang, (2026), Submitted.
[Link to the paper], [Python Software]
[2] "Robust Priors in Nonlinear Panel Models with Individual and Time Effects". with Zhengyu Zhang, Mingli Chen, Jingrong Li, and Iván Fernández-Val, (2026), Submitted.
[Link to the paper], [Python Software]
[3] "Inference for Partially Functional Coefficient Models with Endogeneity". with Yu Jian Chen, Jingrong Li, and Ji-Liang Shiu, (2026), Submitted.
[Link to the paper , and to Appendix]
[4] "From Informal to Formal: How Farmers’ Cooperatives Reshape Smallholder Credit Access". with Yueyue Wu, Jingrong Li, Na Liu, and Ying Liu, (2026), Submitted.

Media Coverage

[1] "What Kind of Talent Are Firms Hiring in the AI Era? Evidence from a Survey of More Than 200 Executives and Over 8,000 Resumes." (in Chinese), (2026) Nanfang Daily (南方日报) and Southern Industrial Think Tank (南方产业智库). [Link]
[2] "On the Definitions of the Left-Behand Children" (in Chinese), (2020) Caixin (财新). [Link]
[3] "Chinese Internet Celebrity Economy" (in Chinese), (2019) NetEase (网易新闻) and Paper (澎湃新闻). [Link]

Policy Work

[1] "Reports on the Social Effect of Special Criminal Syndicate Combat" (in Chinese), with project team, (2021, 2022, 2023), report to the Guangzhou local government
[2] "Third Party Report on Chinese Left-Behand Children and Children in Difficulty in Rural" (in Chinese), with IESR colleagues, (2019), report to Ministry of Civil Affairs of China
[3] "The Impact of Immigration on the Well-being of UK Natives", with Corrado Giulietti, (2018), report to MAC of UK Home Office

Textbook & Teaching

Textbook

Python for Econometrics (计量经济学编程：以Python语言为工具), with Yi Zhang, China Financial and Economic Publishing House (中国财政经济出版社), 2024. ISBN: 978-7-5223-2710-5.
- This textbook introduces Python programming for econometrics and applied economic research. The main text is written in English, with Chinese annotations and explanations designed to help students build both programming skills and econometric intuition. The book covers Python basics, numerical and scientific computing, Monte Carlo methods, linear regression and endogeneity, maximum likelihood estimation, limited dependent variable models, panel data models, and selected advanced topics in econometrics.
- Online resources are available at www.pythonmetrics.com, including lecture slides (and raw markdown codes), mind maps, example code, datasets, and data analysis examples.
- [Link to book introduction (Chinese)]
- Clicking below for the Table of Contents:
Table of Contents
1. Get Started with Python 接触Python语言
  1. Introduction to Python
  2. Basics of Math and Variables
  3. Built-in Functions and Modules
  4. Data Structures
  5. Control Flow
  6. Functions and Classes
  7. Using Python and Stata Together
  8. Further Learning Resources and References
  9. Exercises
2. Numerical Python Python 数值计算
  1. Numerical Computation
  2. Data Manipulations
  3. Data Importing and Exporting
  4. Further Learning Resources and References
  5. Exercises
3. Scientific Python Python 科学计算
  1. Data Visualization
  2. Scientific Computation
  3. Symbolic Computation
  4. Further Learning Resources and References
  5. Exercises
4. Monte Carlo Methods Python中实现蒙特卡洛方法
  1. Monte Carlo Experiment
  2. Monte Carlo Integration
  3. Simulation Studies in Econometrics
  4. Further Learning Resources and References
  5. Exercises
5. Linear Regression Models and Endogeneity Issues 线性回归模型及内生性问题
  1. Introduction
  2. OLS Estimation
  3. Inferences
  4. Residual Analysis
  5. Robust Standard Errors
  6. Endogeneity
  7. Further Learning Resources and References
  8. Exercises
6. Maximum Likelihood Estimation 最大似然估计法
  1. Introduction
  2. Analytical and Numerical Solutions
  3. Constrained Optimizations
  4. Properties of the MLE
  5. Normal Linear Models
  6. Further Learning Resources and References
  7. Exercises
7. Limited Dependent Variable Models 受限因变量模型
  1. Binary Response Models
  2. Ordinal Response Models
  3. Code Up an Estimation Routine
  4. Further Learning Resources and References
  5. Exercises
8. Panel Data Models 面板数据模型
  1. Introduction
  2. Fixed Effects Models
  3. Random Effects Models
  4. Fixed Effects vs. Random Effects
  5. Further Learning Resources and References
  6. Exercises
9. Further Econometric Topics and Examples 进阶计量经济学方法中的Python编程实例
  1. Bootstrap Resampling
  2. Monte Carlo Sampling Methods
  3. Nonparametric Methods
  4. Bayesian Econometrics
  5. Further Learning Resources and References
  6. Exercises
Teaching in 2025-26
- By appointment.
- Advanced Econometrics II (PhD 1st year at Jinan University), 2020-2026
- Programming for Econometrics (UG 2nd yea at Jinan University), 2019-2026
Teaching Awards
- Outstanding Student Affairs Worker (Top 10) (优秀学生工作者（十佳）), Jinan University, 2026
- Second Prize, Guangdong Provine Teaching Award (广东省教学成果奖二等奖, Contributor), 2025
- Selected Case of AI-Empowered Undergraduate Teaching (人工智能赋能本科教育教学典型应用场景案例), Jinan University, 2025
- Best Teaching Awards (最佳教学奖), IESR of Jinan University, 2024 and 2022
- Guangdong Provine Graduate Model Course (广东省研究生示范课程), 2023
- Outstanding Undergraduate Class Adviser (优秀本科班主任), Jinan University, 2022

Curriculum vitae

PDF

Miscellaneous information

I practice Tai-chi and Xing-Yi (形意拳) . Some of my past videos of Martial Arts can be found here: [1], [2] (in Chinese)

My given name "Zizhong" is a two-syllable word (pronounced as "Zee" followed by "Jon"), and the family name is "Yan". My friends also call me Yan.

Econometric Software

Python/Stata Packages

[1] "twowaypanel: Econometric Analysis of Nonlinear Panel Models with Individual and Time Effects", with Zhengyu Zhang, Mingli Chen, Jingrong Li, Iván Fernández-Val, (2026), online available at PYPI.
[Link to the package]
[2] "NetworkFm: A Python Package for Dyadic network formation models with degree heterogeneity", (2026), online available at PYPI.
[Link to the package]
[3] "WCBREGRESS: Stata Module to Estimate a Linear Regression Model with Clustered Errors Using the Wild Cluster Bootstrap Standard Errors", with Bingkun Lin, (2020), Boston College Department of Economics Statistical Software Components, S458863.
[Link to the package]
[4] "A Python Library for Estimating a Linear Model and Carrying Accurate Inference with Clustered Errors using Cluster Bootstrap", with Bingkun Lin, Shiyue Shen, and Ziyi Zhan,(2020), online available at PYPI.
[Link to the package]
[5] "MSEFFECT: Stata module to estimate the mean effect size of (binary/multiple group) treatment on multiple outcomes", (2017), Boston College Department of Economics Statistical Software Components, S458290.
[Link to the package]

Stata Editor

"Stata Improved Editor for macOS", available at Sublime text package control
- The Sublime Text 3 (ST3) is probably the most popular text editor under the macOS platform. This plugin is committed to making the ST3 to be the favourable and handy Stata do-file editor for Mac users. This package can be installed directly via the Sublime Text package manager, and keeps updated. It has developed since 2017--202, updated many times to incorporate new functions, suggestions and contributions from many other Stata users. If you are a Stata user using mac computer, I would be happy to recommend to use my Stata editor.
  [Link to the plugin]
"Vim Plugin for Running Selected Do-File in Stata", available at Vim.org
- With this plugin, you can replace Stata's DO file editor with Vim, running do file commands directly from Vim. Vim is known as a highly configurable text editor built to enable very efficient text editing, and Stata is one of the most popular statistical packages with a huge user-community. This plugin is developed to make connections between Vim and Stata and supports Mac OS X and Linux. With our plugin, you could easily send selected do file lines from Vim to have them run in Stata.
  [Link to the plugin]

Zizhong Yan 严子中