Born in the 90s, Professor SONG Hong, a young scholar in the field of labor economics at Fudan’s School of Economics, has forged her own path in academia. Initially embarking on her academic voyage as an undergraduate at Fudan, she chose to explore labor economics through the lens of China’s unique context. After completing her PhD in Singapore, she returned to her alma mater, swiftly ascending to the rank of professor with an exceptional promotion trajectory. Throughout her illustrious career, she has been unwavering in her commitment to applying her expertise to the advancement of China’s socioeconomic landscape.
Tracing success back to Fudan
Traversing the campus with a backpack, Song effortlessly fits in with the student populace. However, her remarkable achievements mark her out as a prodigious economist among her peers. As the youngest recipient of the esteemed Zhang Peigang Award for Young Scholars—an accolade in China that recognizes groundbreaking contributions to development economics—her research impact is undeniable. Song also spearheads various national research projects and contributes significantly to the academic community as an associate editor for a number of prestigious international journals.
Reflecting on her journey, she traces the origins of her success back to Fudan University, the nurturing ground where she spent nearly a decade cultivating her intellectual prowess.
In 2009, Song was admitted to Fudan, eager to explore her future possibilities in this vibrant environment. Through all the trial and error, she finally discovered her true passion: Economics, where rigorous quantitative analysis meets the humanitarian perspective.
Along the way, her mentor, Professor FENG Jin, provided invaluable guidance. Known for her meticulous attention to detail, despite being an established academic, Feng continued to conduct field research and gather data on her own. Her perseverance in set a strong example for Song, inspiring her to pursue research that truly reflects reality.
Growing to become a rising star in labor economics
Upon graduation, Song pursued PhD studies at the National University of Singapore, where she focused on human capital and labor economics in a Chinese context.
She swiftly discovered that the rigors of graduate-level research far exceeded the challenges she had encountered during her undergraduate years. “Sometimes it takes years of continuous effort to make slight progress. This journey demands not just resilience, but above all, a tranquil and composed mindset.”
Despite the myriad challenges she faced, her passion served as an unwavering force. Song dedicated herself to her work, often spending entire days—from dawn to dusk—immersed in scholarly literature and meticulous data analysis. She showcased her research at international conferences, thereby broadening her academic horizons and forging a robust professional network.
Song’s endeavors paid off. She published her work in the Journal of Labor Economics shortly after receiving her PhD. The journal, known for its stringent selection process with only about 30 papers published each year. This makes Song’s exceptional research on human capital development in China a particularly noteworthy addition to its esteemed body of work.
In 2018, Song started her academic career at Fudan, teaching labor economics for undergraduates. She skillfully integrates theories and real-life cases in her lectures. “Professor Song always inspires us with everyday occurrences. Anything we mentioned in class can be a topic to explore. She breathes life into complex literature, particularly when elucidating intricate concepts such as the returns on education,” said LIU Xiaoyang, a student from the School of Economics.
Besides teaching, Song is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of economists. From the minutiae of lecture content to the genesis of research ideas, she unfailingly addresses her students’ inquiries with the utmost patience. Under her guidance, many of her students have gone on to pursue academic careers.
Making real-world impact through research
Throughout her academic life, Song has always kept her belief in conducting research that has tangible impact on China’s socioeconomic development.
She collaborates with senior professors in the school and has quickly established herself in the field. Together with Professor ZHANG Jun, she focuses on poverty alleviation and human capital accumulation in China. Meanwhile, she digs into the impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on labor markets in countries along the way with Professor LUO Changyuan and cooperates with Professor FENG Jin in the studies of social security system. Many of their works have been published in influential Chinese and international journals.
On top of studying policy implications, Song is actively involved in industry-academia cooperation to improve social welfare through research.
Inspired by a team from Shanxi Normal University conducting large-scale randomized controlled trials on human capital accumulation in the rural area of central and western China by chance, she reached out to the team leader and collaborated with them. By now, their research has covered over 100 schools and villages, making real differences in improving the teaching quality of local schools.
Behind her success lies a story of perseverance. Countless nights staying up for data and models, braving harsh weather for field research, and facing the sting of rejections from reviewers reviewers after years of dedicated work—none of these adversities have ever swayed Song from her pursuit.
“In reality, academic research is a journey fraught with uncertainties. Discovering a subject that ignites your passion is essential. It’s what propels you forward, even when you’re utterly drained.” This candid reflection encapsulates her academic odyssey and serves as her earnest encouragement to students aspiring to an academic career.
(END)
Presented by Fudan University Media Center
Writer: XU Zixi
Editor: LI Yijie, WANG Mengqi
