Research

RESEARCH INTERESTS

My research program follows two main strands. First, I investigate how institutions affect business performance in emerging economies, particularly informal and/or traditional institutions which are of paramount importance in these countries. Second, I analyse how institutional disruptions—associated with diplomatic disputes, geopolitical risks and sanctions—influence multinational enterprises, public policy and regional development. A brief research statement can be found here. 

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Estrin, S., Hu, Y., Shapiro, D., & Zhang, P. (2024). Agglomeration costs limits sustainable innovation in cities in developing countries. PLoS ONE, 19(11): e0308742. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0308742 

Li, J., Shapiro, D., Ufimtseva, A., & Zhang, P. (2024). Techno-nationalism and cross-border acquisitions in an age of geopolitical rivalry. Accepted at Journal of International Business Studies.

He, C., Li, J.,Wang, W., & Zhang, P. (2024). Regional resilience during a trade war: The role of global connections and local networks. Accepted at Journal of World Business.

Guo, Q., Zhang, P., Zhu, S., & Liu, J. (2023). Export market relatedness, geographical diversification and regional export growth in China. Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, 67: 336-346.

Shapiro, D., Oh, C.H., & Zhang, P. (2023). Nighttime Lights Data and Their Implications for IB Research. Journal of International Management, 29(5): 101055.

Li, Y., Li, J., Zhang, P., & Gwon, S. (2023). Stronger Together: Country-of-Origin Agglomeration and MNE Location Choice in an Adverse Institutional Environment. Strategic Management Journal, 44(4): 1053-1083. 

• Best Macro Paper Award, the International Association for Chinese Management Research (IACMR)

• Finalist for the Global Strategy Journal Best Paper Award, IACMR

• Excellent Paper Award, South Korean Academy Society of Global Business Administration

Aidt, T. S., Winer, S. L., & Zhang, P. (2022). Franchise Extension and Fiscal Structure in the UK 1820–1913: A New Test of the Redistribution Hypothesis. Cliometrica, 16(3), 547-574.

Krishnan, P., & Zhang, P. (2020). Restricting Trade and Reducing Variety: Evidence from Ethiopia. World Development, 126, 104695. 

Yeung, G., He, C., & Zhang, P. (2017). Rural Banking in China: A Case of Centralization?. Area Development and Policy, 2(2), 173-191.

Yeung, G., He, C., & Zhang, P. (2017). Rural Banking in China: Geographically Accessible But Still Financially Excluded?. Regional Studies, 51(2), 297-312. 

Zhang, P., He, C., & Sun, Y. (2014). Agglomeration Economies and Firm R&D Efforts: An Analysis of China's Electronics and Telecommunications Industries. The Annals of Regional Science, 53, 671-701.

Lei, X., Sun, X., Strauss, J., Zhang, P., & Zhao, Y. (2014). Depressive Symptoms and SES Among the Mid-aged and Elderly in China: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study National Baseline. Social Science & Medicine, 120: 224-232. 

CONFERENCE BEST PAPER PROCEEDINGS

Estrin, S., Mickiewicz, T., & Zhang, P. (2022). The Endogamy Tradition and the Business Performance of Informal Owner-manager Ventures in Sub-Saharan Africa, In Sonia Taneja (Ed.) Best Paper Proceedings of the Eighty-second Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management. 

Estrin, S., Mickiewicz, T., & Zhang, P. (2022). The Endogamy Tradition and the Business Performance of Informal Owner-manager Ventures in Sub-Saharan Africa, In Dorothy Mpabanga (Ed.) Best Paper Proceedings of the Sixth Biennial Conference of the Africa Academy of Management.

• Winner of the Best Paper, Africa Academy of Management Biennial Conference (Track: Entrepreneurship and Small Business)

MEDIA ARTICLES

Zhang, P. (2022). The Endogamy Tradition: Its Persistence, Evolution and How It Affects Informal Business Outcomes. SFU Beedie Research Insights.

Gunning, J., Mengistu, A., Krishnan, P., & Zhang, P. Fading Choice: Access to Manufactured Goods in Remote Ethiopia (2020), VoxDev.

RESEARCH GRANTS

Jack Austin Centre for Asia Pacific Business Studies, Research Grant, Principal Investigator, CAD $10,000, 2024-2026

Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada, Small Explore Research Grant, Sole Investigator, CAD $7,000, 2024-2026

Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada Insight Development Grant, Sole Investigator (No. 430-2021-00559), CAD $46,060, 2021-2024  

Simon Fraser University President's Research Start-up Grants, Sole Investigator, CAD $45,000, 2018-2023