Profile: Five questions with Dr Rong Zhu

Dr Rong Zhu is an early career researcher with an exciting future. He has already published 17 journal articles and completed nine research projects for the Australian Government, with his work providing insights that could be used to improve public policy both in Australia and in his homeland of China.

After a stint with the National Institute of Labour Studies at Flinders, he joined the Flinders University Business School in late 2016 – and brings a stronger focus on comparative research into the Chinese and Australian economies.

Flinders has had a strong relationship with Nankai University in China for many years and takes great pride in its close links with Asia.

1.       What fascinates you about labour economics?

“Everybody wants to work and feel that they are doing something useful in their job – and I research many issues relating to these issues.

“Studying the wage gap between regional workers and urban professionals in China, or the impact of health policy on the economy, or the factors that help people to have a better retirement are all really important issues that affect almost everybody at some stage of their life.

“It’s a privilege to find out new information about how the economy is working – the information can be used to make better policy and to make a difference to people’s lives.”

2.       What made you choose to research economics?

“I had a happy childhood growing up in a province near Shanghai and I always wanted to find out more about the economy and what made it work.

“I studied my Bachelor and Master degrees in economics in China before the University of New South Wales came to our university, looking for good students. I received a scholarship, to study my PhD in labour economics in Sydney and graduated in 2011.”

3.       Why did you choose Flinders?

“I like Adelaide, there is a really good lifestyle here. In China I would be very busy and have a much busier lifestyle.

“It would be really nice to be closer to my family, but in Flinders there are lots of new people here and many opportunities to move ahead with research that focuses on trends in Australia and in China.”

“Flinders has a very beautiful campus, with lots of natural bushland on a hill overlooking the sea, and my colleagues are very friendly. I like it here.”

4.       What are you working on at the moment?

“I am doing a lot of preparation for classes, as I will be teaching a range of economics subjects this year and I am also writing several papers. I have recently been researching health issues in Australia and the impact of health policy on behaviour, as well as a study on the factors affecting older workers in both China and Australia.”

5.       Some of your research delves in Chinese economic issues and other papers focus on Australian economic issues, are you tempted to focus just on one country in greater depth?

“On the contrary, 21st century economic research needs to consider global factors and as an economist who grew up in China and now works in Australia, I have an unusual opportunity to be able to compare factors in each economy.

“China is Australia’s most important trading partner and there are many strong linkages between the two countries – I think there will be a lot more research of this type in the future, as it helps us to better understand and learn from each other.”

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