About
Yang-Yang Zhou studies the political causes and consequences of migration. Her current research questions are: How does the presence of refugees affect local development and public goods provision, conflict, and voting behavior? For minority citizens who share ethnic and cultural ties with refugees and other migrants, what explains why they are sometimes inclusive and pro-migrant, but other times, they seek to differentiate themselves by excluding or “othering”? And in contexts marked by anti-migrant prejudice and discrimination, can certain types of interventions — like prolonged intergroup contact between locals and migrants — work in reducing tensions? These projects span multiple regions, including East Africa, Central Asia, and South America.
Awards
- Research Grant Award, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, 2022
- APSA Migration and Citizenship Section Best Article Award, 2022
- Awardee, DFID-World Bank-UNHCR Building Evidence on Protracted Forced Displacement, 2021
- Research Grant Award, National Science Foundation, 2021
Relevant Publications
- Zhou, Y. Y., & Lyall, J. (2023). Prolonged Contact Does Not Improve Locals Relations with Migrants in Wartime Settings. American Journal of Political Science, Forthcoming.
- Zhou, Y. Y., Grossman, G., & Ge, S. (2023). Inclusive refugee-hosting can improve local development and prevent public backlash. World Development, 166, 106203.
- Zhou, Y. Y., & Shaver, A. (2021). Reexamining the effect of refugees on civil conflict: a global subnational analysis. American Political Science Review, 115(4), 1175-1196.