Shuang Chen

Shuang Chen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), affiliated with Population at LSE. She joined LSE in September 2021. Her research focuses on demography, education, and social policy, particularly examining the intersection of education systems, fertility transitions in developing nations, and demographic drivers of inequality. She holds a Ph.D. in Demography and Social Policy from Princeton University and a master's in International Education Policy Analysis from Stanford University.

Education: PhD in Demography/Social Policy (Princeton University), MA in International Education Policy Analysis (Stanford University), BA/BS from Stanford University.

Research interests include the demographic consequences of educational policies in China, quantitative methods applied to social policy analysis, and the role of education in fertility decision-making. Her work bridges demographic theory with policy practice, addressing issues like urban China’s fertility trends, low fertility challenges in developing countries, and the impact of parental education on family dynamics.

Her publications analyze topics such as ideal family size in urban China, demographic shifts in Hong Kong during socio-political upheaval, and the interplay between women’s education and fertility rates. She has contributed to global development projects through collaborations with the World Bank and PARIS21, focusing on statistical capacity building and education policy.

Teaching includes courses on research methods for social policy and educational inequality in the Global South. Her interdisciplinary approach combines demographic analysis with policy evaluation to inform equitable development strategies.