Xianwen Shi

Xianwen Shi is a Professor of Economics at the University of Toronto, currently on leave. He holds positions at both the downtown St. George campus and the Mississauga campus. With a Ph.D. from Yale University (2007), his research focuses on mechanism design, information design, voting theory, and search and matching markets. His work bridges microeconomic theory and industrial organization, addressing strategic interactions in auctions, voting systems, and market design.

Shi's academic journey includes degrees from Peking University (M.A., 1999) and Beijing Jiaotong University (B.S. in Civil Engineering, 1996). He has held progressive roles at the University of Toronto since 2007, advancing from Assistant to Associate Professor before becoming full Professor in 2018.

His research contributions span topics like optimal voting rules, discriminatory information disclosure, and auction mechanisms with limited commitment. Notable awards include the Dean's Excellence Award (2017 and 2011). He has advised on complex economic policies and contributed to foundational theories in multidimensional voting and competitive price discrimination.

Shi’s work often intersects theoretical rigor with practical applications, such as analyzing platform privacy policies and designing optimal patent systems. He maintains active collaborations with institutions like the Rotman School of Management and has taught advanced microeconomic theory, managerial economics, and undergraduate economics courses.