Xiaojian Zhao

Xiaojian Zhao is a Professor in the Department of Economics at Monash University, specializing in behavioral and experimental economics with a focus on motivated beliefs, contract theory, and intertemporal decision-making. His work bridges microeconomic theory and practical applications in finance and industrial organization. He serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics and has authored influential studies in top-tier journals like the Journal of Political Economy and Review of Economic Studies.

Research Interests: Behavioral Economics, Experimental Economics, Game Theory, Motivated Beliefs, Contract Theory, Intertemporal Choice, and Financial Contracting. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to economic stability and consumer protection.

• Editorial Roles: Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (Editorial Board), Games (Guest Editor, 2022–2023)
• Awards: 2022 Dean’s Award for Research Excellence, 2022 Departmental Research Excellence Award
• Key Collaborations: Global network spanning institutions in China, Europe, and North America

Research Trends: Recent work explores time perception’s impact on decision-making, strategic information suppression in finance, and the psychological underpinnings of motivated beliefs. Experimental methods feature prominently in his studies of cognitive biases and social preferences.