Dr Yanli Lin, Resident Fellow at UWA

UWA Business School, Economics

Bio
Dr Yanli Lin completed her undergraduate and Master’s training in Economics at Renmin University of China between 2008 and 2015. She subsequently moved to the United States to undertake a PhD in Economics at Ohio State University (2018–2024).

Her doctoral research focused on econometric theory and applied econometrics, with particular attention to challenges arising in spatial and networked data. During her PhD, Dr Lin also worked as a Graduate Research Associate and Graduate Teaching Associate at Ohio State University.

In 2024, Dr Lin joined the UWA Business School as a Lecturer in Economics. Her research develops econometric methods for spatial and network data and applies these tools to policy-relevant empirical analysis. At UWA, she teaches undergraduate advanced econometrics and postgraduate business analytics, and supervises Honours and PhD research students.

Academic Focus
Dr Lin works in the field of econometrics, with research focused on spatial econometrics, network models, and applied econometric methods. Her work addresses key challenges such as modelling spillover effects, peer effects, endogeneity, and complex dependence structures using advanced statistical techniques.

At UWA, she teaches undergraduate and postgraduate units in econometrics, applied econometrics and business analytics. Her expertise aligns closely with quantitative training for economics and business students.

Research Summary
Dr Lin’s research interests centre on developing and improving econometric methods that enable economists to make more reliable inferences from spatial and networked data, particularly in settings where traditional models struggle with endogeneity and complex interdependence. Her work spans several related areas, including:

  • Spatial econometric modelling, developing new approaches to address bias and dependence in spatial data, such as regional spillovers and interactions across locations

  • Copula-based estimation techniques, creating flexible and instrument-free frameworks for handling endogeneity in spatial autoregressive and dynamic panel models

  • Efficient and computationally practical estimators, including residual-adjusted two-step methods that deliver reliable results with reduced computational burden

  • Applications of spatial methods to real-world economic phenomena, demonstrating how advanced econometric tools can uncover meaningful patterns in migration flows, regional productivity, links between disease transmission and economic activity, and other spatial and network outcomes

Work and Education History

2024 – Present Lecturer, UWA Business School, Economics

2018 – 2024 PhD in Economics, Department of Economics, Ohio State University, USA

2020 – 2023 Graduate Research Associate with Professor Bruce A. Weinberg

2019 – 2024 Graduate Teaching Associate, Ohio State University

2018 – 2019 Master of Arts (en route) in Economics, Ohio State University, USA

2012 – 2015 Master of Arts in Economics, Renmin University of China

2008 – 2012 Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Renmin University of China

Connect
Website UWA Profile ORCID