David Daokui Li

David Daokui Li stands as one of China's most influential economists, serving as the Mansfield Freeman Chair Professor at Tsinghua University's School of Economics and Management. After earning his BS from Tsinghua University in 1985 as part of the first cohort of graduates from the School of Economics and Management, and his PhD from Harvard University under advisors including Eric S. Maskin, he has built an extraordinary career spanning academia and policy advisory roles. Together with Nobel Laureate Eric S. Maskin, he co-presides over the Society for the Analysis of Government and Economics (SAGE) and directs the Academic Center for Chinese Economic Practice and Thinking (ACCEPT). His policy influence extends through significant appointments, including membership on the Monetary Policy Committee of the People's Bank of China, external advisor to the International Monetary Fund, and member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference from 2008 to 2023. As founding Dean of Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University from 2014 to 2017 and Chief Economist of the New Development Bank since 2019, he continues to shape economic discourse through his expertise in government economics, economic development, and comparative economics. His recent research has gained significant attention, particularly his 2023 study revealing local government debt in China was 50% higher than previous international estimates.