Economics researcher

Yihu Hou

Assistant Professor, School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development (SARD), Renmin University of China

I work on industrial organization and microeconomic theory. My recent research studies information, coordination, recommendations, and price signaling.

  • Joined SARD at Renmin University of China in September 2023.
  • PhD in Economics, Toulouse School of Economics, 2023.
  • PhD defense committee: Andrew Rhodes, Bruno Jullien, Jacques Crémer.
Fields
Microeconomic Theory, Industrial Organization
Current Position
Assistant Professor at SARD, RUC
Based In
Beijing, China
Portrait of Yihu Hou

Research

Selected work

Recent papers in microeconomic theory, industrial organization, and information design.

Job market paper December 2022

Sequential Screening via Trial Versions

I study how a firm uses trial versions to screen consumers who learn through consumption. The optimal information provision depends on the learning structure: bad-news updating leads to more bunching, while good-news updating can support richer screening menus.

Work in progress Abstract only

Price Signaling and Recommender's Ranking Mechanism

Consumers may infer quality from price when recommendations are not fully trusted. This paper shows that if an informed recommender always makes a recommendation, consumers may ignore it and rely on price instead. Occasional non-recommendation, even with vanishing probability, can restore credibility and improve welfare.

CV

Academic profile

Current appointment, education, and recent teaching.

Current appointment

2023-present
Assistant Professor

School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development (SARD), Renmin University of China.

Education

2018-2023
PhD in Economics

Toulouse School of Economics.

Defense committee: Andrew Rhodes, Bruno Jullien, Jacques Crémer.

2017-2018
Master 2 in Economic Theory and Econometrics

Toulouse School of Economics.

2016-2017
Master 1 in Economics

Toulouse School of Economics.

2011-2016
Bachelor in Economics

Peking University.

2012-2016
Bachelor in Computer Science

Double degree, Peking University.

Teaching

2024-2025
Advanced Microeconomics
2025-2026
Advanced Microeconomics

Contact

Email is the best way to reach me.