Professor Deng is Reader in Economic History, Director of China in Comparative Perspective Network (CCPN) and Co-Director of the Confucius Institute for Business London (CIBL) at LSE; and is also a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS) and Secretary of the 'History and Economic Development Group', UK.

His taught courses at LSE include 'Comparative Economic Development: Late Industrialisation in Russia, India and Japan', 'China's Economy and its Growth in the Long-Term', 'Economic Development in East and Southeast Asia since the 17th Century', 'Shipping and Sea Power in Asian Waters and beyond, c. 1600-1900', 'Markets and States in Developing Economies since c. 1880' and 'Pre-modern Paths of Growth: East and West Compared, 1000-1800'.

His research interests are the rise of the literati in the economic life of pre-modern China; the maritime economic history of pre-modern China; and the economic role of the Chinese peasantry. He has published widely and is the author of a number of books. His new book entitled China's states and state-building, 1800 to 2000, has just been published.