Lecture Introduction

Depression has been a global public health concern. This paper provides causal evidence on the impact of depression on labor market outcomes. Using panel data of more than 35,000 individuals during 2010–2022 from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) and a staggered difference-in-differences approach, we find that depression has significantly negative effects on employment participation, annual earnings, and job satisfaction whereas increases weekly working hours, especially for those with lower socioeconomic status. Moreover, these adverse effects of depression on individuals persist over time. Further analyses provide evidence that somatization disorder characterized by less sleeping time on workdays, worse physical health, and less educational attainment may serve as the mechanisms underlying these effects.

Speaker

Professor Chengfang Liu (School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Peking University)

Lecture Time

April 2, 2025 (Wednesday), 13:00–14:30

Venue

Room 347, Qiu Shi Building

Lecture Language

Chinese and English

Moderator

Professor Liqiu Zhao

Speaker Biography

Dr. Chengfang Liu is a Boya Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean of the School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences at Peking University. She also serves as Deputy Director of the China Center for Agricultural Policy and Director of the Peking University-University of Sydney Joint Research Center for Food Security and Sustainable Agricultural Development. In 2019, she was awarded the prestigious National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars. Professor Liu's research focuses on policy and management issues related to urban-rural integrated development, with particular emphasis on rural public goods, human capital, and rural transformation. To date, she has published over 140 research papers in leading academic journals including Journal of Development Economics and Journal of Labor Economics. She served as President of the China Section of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) from 2019 to 2021, and currently holds editorial positions as Associate Editor of China Agricultural Economic Review (since 2023) and Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese Association of Agricultural Economics (since 2023).

Faculty and students are warmly welcome to attend!