FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

China Center for Human Capital and Labor Market Research (CHLR)

CHLR Announces the Passing of Professor Belton Fleisher, Founding Faculty Member and Longtime Mentor

It is with deep sorrow that the China Center for Human Capital and Labor Market Research (CHLR) announces the passing of Professor Belton Fleisher, a founding faculty member of CHLR and one of the most influential scholars in the Center's history. Professor Fleisher passed away on Sunday, November 30, 2025, in Chicago. He was 90 years old.

Professor Fleisher played a pivotal role in the founding and development of CHLR and was instrumental in shaping its internationally recognized human capital research project. He helped recruit nearly every CHLR faculty member, fostering a vibrant academic community, and mentored and taught countless students who have since become leaders in academia, government, and industry.

For seventeen consecutive years, Professor Fleisher served as Co-Chair of the International Symposium on Human Capital and Labor Markets, guiding its growth into a premier global forum for human capital research. His vision, leadership, and intellectual rigor have left an enduring mark on the Center and the broader field of human capital research.

Professor Fleisher received his Ph.D. in Economics from Stanford University in 1961. He served on the faculty of the University of Chicago from 1961 to 1965 before joining The Ohio State University in 1965, where he later became Professor Emeritus of Economics. Over his distinguished career, he made profound contributions to labor economics, development economics, and the study of the Chinese economy, as well as to the growth and advancement of the Chinese economists community.

We are working with colleagues and the Fleisher family on plans to honor Professor Fleisher's life and legacy. Further information will be provided as it becomes available.

For inquiries, please contact:
Rong Huang — leafhuangrong@163.com
Lingxuan Zhu — soulmatezoe@163.com

China Center for Human Capital and Labor Market Research (CHLR)