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Li Shengwu (economist)

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In this Chinese name, the family name is Li.
Li Shengwu
Born (1985-02-04) 4 February 1985 (age 39)[2][3]
Singapore
CitizenshipSingapore[3]
Alma mater
Known forBehavioral Economics
Parent(s)Lee Hsien Yang
Lee Suet Fern
RelativesLee Kuan Yew (grandfather)
Scientific career
FieldsEconomics[1]
InstitutionsHarvard University[1]
Thesis Essays in Theoretical and Behavioral Economics  (2016)
Doctoral advisorPaul Milgrom
Muriel Niederle
Websitewww.shengwu.li

Li Shengwu (Chinese: 李绳武; pinyin: Lǐ Shéngwǔ; born 4 February 1985) is a Singaporean economist residing in the United States. He works as an associate professor at Harvard University, conducting research mainly on behavioral economics.[1] Li is also the grandson of Lee Kuan Yew, the first prime minister of Singapore.[4]

Education and career

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Li received a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy, politics and economics from the University of Oxford in 2009 and obtained a Master of Philosophy degree in economics from Oxford in 2011.[3] Li then pursued a PhD in economics at Stanford University, working on economic theory and behavioral and experimental economics. Upon completing his dissertation titled Essays in Theoretical and Behavioral Economics, Li graduated in 2016.[3][5][6]

As a student, Li represented Oxford and Stanford's debating teams. His notable wins include European Universities Debating Championship 2009 open champion and 2008 open grand finalist;[7][8] World Universities Debating Championship 2010 best speaker and open grand finalist;[9] and HWS Round Robin 2012 champion.[10][11]

Li joined, in 2016, Harvard Society of Fellows as a Junior Fellow.[3][12][1] He became an assistant professor of economics at Harvard University in 2018 and an associate professor in 2023.[3][1] On February 27, 2024, he announced that he received tenure.[13][14]

Li received a Sloan Research Fellowship in 2023.[15][4]

Personal life and family

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Li was born in 1985 in Singapore to Lee Hsien Yang and Lee Suet Fern.[2][3] He has two younger brothers, Li Huanwu and Li Shaowu.[16]

After the death of Singapore's longtime prime minister Lee Kuan Yew in 2015, Li Shengwu's uncle Lee Hsien Loong, then-prime minister of Singapore, began sparring with his brothers, including Li's father Lee Hsien Yang, over the fate of 38 Oxley Road, the family home that Lee Kuan Yew left behind.[17][18]

When the family dispute became publicized in 2017, Li made a private Facebook post complaining that "the Singapore government is very litigious and has a pliant court system".[19][20] Singapore's Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) subsequently sued Li for contempt of court. Some believe that Li's post and the ensuing lawsuit are related to the family feud.[21][20] Li himself claimed that the charges were "politically motivated".[19] The AGC offered to stop pursuing their lawsuit if Li agrees to issue an apology that admits contempt of court as well as making "false and baseless" statements. However, Li refused to apologize, stating that he has not committed any crimes.[20][21] The case resolved in 2020 when Li agreed to pay a fine of S$15,000, though he refused to concede that his post is illegal and claimed that he paid the fine "to buy some peace and quiet",[21] while the Singapore AGC stated that Li "contrived excuses for running away".[19]

Even after the resolution of the lawsuit in 2020, Li continued to reside in the United States. He claimed in a 2023 interview with the New York Times that he fears being arrested if he returns to Singapore. According to Li, his uncle Lee Hsien Loong, who is in power, "doesn’t want competing claims to legitimacy" and would not take chances.[22] Li claimed that his parents would also be in danger if they return to Singapore because the authorities can detain them indefinitely without access to a lawyer.[23]

Jewel Stolarchuk from The Independent Singapore observed that government-linked newspapers in Singapore, such as The Straits Times, have remained silent on Li's achievements such as receiving a Sloan Fellowship and obtaining tenure. Stolarchuk contended that the lack of coverage on Li's father's family members is due to the pressure from the Singaporean government.[24][25]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Shengwu Li | Department of Economics". Harvard University. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "A son for Hsien Yang". The Straits Times. February 13, 1985. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Li, Shengwu. "Shengwu Li CV". Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Goh, Charlene (February 16, 2023). "Singaporean economist Li Shengwu among 125 'outstanding' researchers in US, Canada selected for prestigious Sloan fellowship". CNA (TV network). Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  5. ^ "Shengwu Li | Department of Economics". Stanford University. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  6. ^ Li, Shengwu (2016). Essays in Theoretical and Behavioral Economics (PhD). Stanford University.
  7. ^ "EUDC Newcastle 2009 Final - Leader of the Opposition". Youtube. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  8. ^ "EUDC 2008 Open Finals". Youtube. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  9. ^ "WUDC 2010 results". 6 January 2010.
  10. ^ Minute, Achte (2015-04-08). ""How Dangerous Spaces Debating would work" – Shengwu Li on the current discussion on setting motions". achteminute.de. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  11. ^ "HWS Round Robin past winners". HWS Round Robin. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  12. ^ "Listed by Term | Society of Fellows". Harvard University. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  13. ^ Li, Shengwu [@ShengwuLi] (2024-02-27). "Tenured" (Tweet). Retrieved 2024-02-27 – via Twitter.
  14. ^ Stolarchuk, Jewel (2024-02-29). "Li Shengwu receives tenure at Harvard". The Independent Singapore News. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  15. ^ "Professor Shengwu Li Named 2023 Sloan Fellow". Harvard University. February 23, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  16. ^ Yong, Nicholas (September 30, 2020). "I'm 'incredibly proud' of my sons' support for Hsien Yang and me in family dispute: Lee Suet Fern". Yahoo News Singapore. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  17. ^ Paddock, Richard C. (August 4, 2017). "In Singapore, Family Feud Deepens Over Facebook Posts". The New York Times. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  18. ^ Lam, Lydia (January 18, 2019). "Court of Appeal hears Li Shengwu's appeal in contempt of court case". Channel News Asia. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  19. ^ a b c Bikales, James S. (February 13, 2020). "Amid Three-Year-Long Controversy, Harvard Economics Prof. Li Withdraws from Singapore Criminal Proceedings". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  20. ^ a b c "Singapore court grants AG permission to begin contempt proceedings against Li Shengwu". Reuters. August 21, 2017. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  21. ^ a b c Agence France-Presse (August 11, 2020). "Singapore PM's nephew Li Shengwu to pay contempt of court fine but won't admit guilt". South China Morning Post. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  22. ^ Stockman, Farah (April 12, 2023). "He Made His Country Rich, but Something Has Gone Wrong With the System". The New York Times. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  23. ^ Rising, David (March 3, 2023). "Singapore PM's brother says govt persecuting his family". The Associated Press. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  24. ^ Stolarchuk, Jewel (February 22, 2023). "OPINION | Straits Times remains silent over Li Shengwu's Sloan Research Fellowship award". The Independent Singapore. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  25. ^ Stolarchuk, Jewel (2024-02-29). "LHY expresses joy that Li Shengwu received tenure". The Independent Singapore News. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
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