People

Victor Shih

Victor Shih

Formal First Name
Victor
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Victor Shih is a scholar of the political economy of China, and an expert on the politics of Chinese banking policies, fiscal policies, and exchange rate, as well as the elite politics of China. Shih is the Ho Miu Lam Chair in China and Pacific Relations, and Associate Professor of Political Economy at the University of California, San Diego of Global Policy and Strategy. Prior to joining UC San Diego, Shih was a Professor of Political Science at Northwestern University and Former Principal of global markets strategy for The Carlyle Group, where he continues to advise the financial community on China related issues. Shih was the first analyst to identify the risk of massive local government debt. Today, he is engaged in a study of how the coalition-formation strategies of founding leaders had a profound impact on the evolution of the Chinese Communist Party. He is also constructing a large database on biographical information of elites in China to better understand the importance of networks in political decision making.

Professional Experience


Academic History

RESEARCH

  • Shih's research concerns coalition composition under Mao and Deng, and whether they promoted certain types of officials into senior positions to safeguard their power.

  • His research includes quantitative measurements of factions and the impact of factional politics on elite promotions, rent-seeking activities, and the growth of the private sector.

  • He is also researching the footprints of Chinese defense firms around the world.


MEDIA & PUBLICATIONS

  • Shih is the author of numerous articles appearing in academic and business journals.

  • His work has appeared in The American Political Science Review, Comparative Political Studies, Journal of Politics, and The Wall Street Journal.

  • He has also appeared as a guest on Real Vision.