Biography and expertise
Chih earned his Ph.D. in Economics from Indiana University Bloomington and an M.S. from the University of Texas at Austin. His research interests include social networks, urban and regional economics, spatial econometrics, and applied microeconomics. At Texas State University, he teaches a range of courses, including Microeconomic Theory and Applications, Managerial Economics, Applied Econometrics, Urban and Regional Economics, International Economics, Principles of Microeconomics, and Principles of Macroeconomics. He currently serves as Associate Editor of The Annals of Regional Science and as Graduate Advisor for the MSQFE program.
Education
Doctorate Degree
PhD in Economics
Indiana University Bloomington, 2013
Master's Degree
MA in Economics
Indiana University Bloomington, 2010
Master's Degree
MBA in Management Science
National Chiao Tung University, 2002
Bachelor's Degree
BBA in Business Administration
National Chung Cheng University, 2000
Featured grants
- Chih, Yao-Yu. McCoy College Dean's Summer Research Stipend, Texas State University, $8000. (Funded: May 10, 2024 - August 25, 2024). Grant.
- Ojede, Andrew (Principal), Kishan, Ruby (Co-Principal), Chih, Yao-Yu (Co-Principal). Climate Change, Trade Flows, and Economic Growth Nexus in Developing Countries, Texas State University, Texas State University, $16000. (Funded: December 8, 2022 - May 7, 2024). Grant.
- Zhang, Ren, Chih, Yao-Yu. 2022 McCoy College Dean’s Summer Research Stipend, $8000. (Funded: May 2022 - August 2022). Grant.
- Feng, Li, Chih, Yao-Yu. Hispanic-Serving Institutions and STEM College Graduates: Regression Discontinuity Evidence, Research Enhancement Program, Texas State University, $16000. (Submitted: October 1, 2015, Funded: December 4, 2015 - May 7, 2017). Grant.
Featured scholarly/creative works
- Chih, Y.-Y., Demir, F., Hu, C., Liu, J., & Shen, H. (2026). Residential housing investment and local corruption: Empirical evidence from the Chinese housing market. European Journal of Political Economy, 93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2026.102850
- Sheng, Y., Huang, Q., Chih, Y.-Y., & Cheng, J. (2026). The heterogeneous migration motivations of college graduates in China: The role of preferential household registration policies. Empirical Economics, 70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00181-025-02862-6
- Yang, Y., Chih, Y.-Y., Wen, C., & Luo, X. (2026). Antipollution willingness and urban population distribution: Evidence from Chinese cities. Economic Modelling, 154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2025.107360
- Liu, Z., Lee, S., & Chih, Y.-Y. (2025). Computerization and the decline of unincorporated self-employment. Journal of Human Capital, 19(4), 685–742. https://doi.org/10.1086/735105
- Sheng, Y., Yang, X., Chih, Y.-Y., & Zhang, J. (2024). Foreign direct investment spillovers and regional innovation in China: The spatial moderating role of absorptive capacity. Review of Development Economics, 28(4), 1803–1837. https://doi.org/http://doi.org/10.1111/rode.13122
Featured awards
- Award / Honor Recipient: McCoy College Outstanding Graduate Faculty, McCoy College of Business. August 13, 2026
- Award / Honor Recipient: Master of Science in Quantitative Finance and Economics Outstanding Graduate Faculty, McCoy College of Business. August 13, 2026
- Award / Honor Recipient: Springer Nature Editorial Contribution Award, Springer Nature. May 26, 2026
- Award / Honor Recipient: Ignite Award, McCoy College of Business. August 21, 2025
- Award / Honor Recipient: Award for Excellence in Teaching, Department of Finance & Economics, Texas State University. May 2, 2023
Featured service activities
- Member
DBA Admissions Committee
- Editor
The Annals of Regional Science
- Graduate Advisor
Master of Science in Quantitative Finance and Economics
- Member
Graduate Council
- Member
Governance Committee
- Member
McCoy College AI Task Force Work Group