Call for Papers

China Economic Review

Special Issue in Memory of Professor Belton M. Fleisher

Human Capital and Labor Market Research in China

China Economic Review announces a Special Issue dedicated to the memory of Professor Belton M. Fleisher, recognizing his profound contributions to the journal, to the economics profession, and to the study of the Chinese economy.

Professor Fleisher was a long-time member of the Chinese Economists Society (CES), a dedicated former Member of the CES Board of Directors, and a former Editor and Executive Editor of China Economic Review. Under his leadership, the journal developed into a flagship outlet in the field of Chinese economic research. Over his distinguished career, he made foundational contributions to labor economics, development economics, and the study of China’s economic transformation. His scholarly vision and leadership also played an important role in strengthening and elevating the CES community.

This Special Issue builds upon the previously approved issue on Human Capital and Labor Market Research in China. In light of the memorial dedication, the scope of the issue has been broadened. We now extend the call for papers to the wider scholarly community.

We invite high-quality submissions aligned with Professor Fleisher’s research interests, including but not limited to:

· Human capital formation and investment

· Education and economic development

· Labor markets and wage determination

· Migration and regional development

· Productivity and structural transformation

Both theoretical and empirical contributions are welcome. Papers should demonstrate rigorous methodology and offer fresh insights relevant to China’s economic development. All manuscripts will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process.

Conference Background

The original Special Issue was associated with the 17th International Symposium on Human Capital and Labor Markets — Celebrating the Release of the China Human Capital Report 2025.

The conference program is available at:
https://humancapital.cufe.edu.cn/2025_Human_Capital_Conference_Full_Program_20251210.pdf

Submission Information

The submission portal is open on the China Economic Review website under:

“SI – Human Capital and Labor Market Research in China”

Submission Deadline: 15 November 2026

Guest Editors

Professor Haizheng Li
School of Economics, Georgia Institute of Technology
haizheng.li@econ.gatech.edu

Professor Zhiqiang Liu
Department of Economics, University at Buffalo (SUNY)
zqliu@buffalo.edu