My work examines the rise of women and the self-perpetuation of authoritarian regimes. By tracing the impact of historical events over time and in various institutional settings, my work centers on the role of values, beliefs, and norms in shaping economic and political disparities. ​

In my research on traditional narratives, I have found that folklore is a crucial source of cultural values. In a more recent project, I explore cultural change following the Industrial Revolution through the study of proverbs. Another ongoing line of inquiry concerns cultural values in China across both space and time. 

Recent Publications

Journal Articles

“Folklore” (with Stelios Michalopoulos), Quarterly Journal of Economics, forthcoming.

“Friends from Afar: The Taiping Rebellion, Cultural Proximity and Primary Schooling in the Lower Yangzi, 1850-1949” (with Yu Hao), Explorations in Economic History, 63 (2017): 44-69.

 Working Papers

“High-Value Work and the Rise of Women: The Cotton Revolution and Gender Equality in China,” 2024. 

“Autocratic Rule and Social Capital: Evidence from Imperial China,” 2021 

“The Short- and Long-Run Effects of Affirmative Action: Evidence from Imperial China,” 2023, with Boxiao Zhang. 

“Violence and Missing Women in China,” 2024, with Tuan-Hwee Sng and Songfa Zhong. 

“Values of China," 2024

Curriculum Vitae

You can view Dr Melanie Meng Xue's CV here: Melanie Meng Xue CV [PDF]