Dr. Herlevi examines China's political economy and foreign policy to educate and inform policymakers, scholars, and the national security community on trends in economic statecraft. At present, I may have two main research agendas.
PRC Technological Upgrading: The first main research agenda examines China's political economy with a focus on technology acquisition strategies and technological upgrading. This research builds upon the trends identified in my dissertation on special economic zones (SEZs) in China's coastal provinces.
PRC Statecraft in Asia and Oceania: My second research focus is centered on China's statecraft and foreign economic policy and its consequences abroad. Right now, the focus is on China's relationships in the Pacific Islands and the impacts of strategic competition in the region. This research builds upon prior research on China's economic statecraft in Africa (focused on ports and SEZs), the Middle East, and South Asia (arms exports).
Research Interests
My research interests include international political economy, global production, foreign direct investment, and Chinese political and economic development. My dissertation examines the use of location-based incentives to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) with a focus on the causes and consequences of special economic zones (SEZs).