China is once again the setting for the research of Yejun Qian '08 (Shanghai, China). Qian, a duel major in mathematics and economics, is studying the effects of China's accession into the World Trade Organization with a particular emphasis on the environment. The central question of his study will be, "how have the trade patterns and environmental indicators changed, nationally and provincially, since China's accession into WTO?"
As Qian explains in his proposal, the trade and environment debate has been alive and battled since 1972. Some argue that "increased trade leads to faster economic growth and poverty reduction, improved efficiency in resource use, and reduced environmental degradation." Their opponent environmentalists, however, claim that "trade weakens environmental regulations in order to cut costs, generating a regulatory 'race to the bottom' effect and thus endangering the environment." Qian plans to focus on China in order to make his own conclusions regarding these two very different views.
Qian's study is quantitative. He explains that "quantitative assessment on the environmental impacts of China's increased trade…is in short supply" and that, as a result, "the formulation of trade agreements often lacks reliable scientific basis." He hopes to develop an empirical model in order to see the differences in China's environment before and after its WTO accession.
Qian is collecting information and data in Shanghai, the biggest provincial city in China and the world's busiest port in terms of cargo throughput. Qian will also obtain trade statistics such as monthly value, percentage change, and product composition. He then plans to analyze the current literature including the progress of the trade and environment debate in academic publications, the key trade statistics of Shanghai (annual growth rates of trade and GDP from 1996 to 2005), environmental and health statistics of Shanghai and China fives years before and after China's accession. This information will, Qian hopes, give him a better understanding of the relationship between China's economic boom and its environmental state.
This is not Qian's first research project, nor his first time conducting research abroad. Last year he had a Levitt Fellowship to investigate the electronic waste trade between the U.S. and China. A native of Shanghai, Qian says he is "acutely aware of the environmental 'crisis' in China." He hopes ultimately to "increase environmental awareness among all concerned parties and individuals."
His interest in this topic, he explains, comes partly from his last year's research. It also stems from his Sophomore Seminar on Globalization and Democracy, in which he "realized the powerful influence of international organizations such as WTO on the economic development and environment of developing nations."
A rising junior, Qian has definite ideas about his goals. He is considering a graduate degree in economics and hopes to further his "research in environment-related areas." He is also interested in "enhancing CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) in a professional setting."
His research is funded by the Emerson Foundation Grant Program, which allows students to work closely with a faculty member researching in depth an area of the student's interest.
-- by Lisbeth Redfield
