Speaker：Prof. 李蕾 (Lei Li)

Title：Defensive Innovation: Technological Rivalry and College Major Choice

Schedule: Mar 12, Wed 15:00-16:30

Location: 诚明楼 (Chengming Hall), Rm 315

Introduction: 李蕾，德国哥廷根大学经济与工商管理学院和人文学院教授，德国经济研究中心（CESifo）和劳动经济研究所（IZA）青年会员。加入哥廷根大学前，她于2019-2024年在德国曼海姆大学担任助理教授。她的主要研究方向是国际贸易和中国经济。她在Journal of International Economics、Journal of Economic Perspectives、Energy Economics、Economic Letters、经济研究、经济学季刊、数量经济技术经济研究等发表论文。担任 American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, Economic Journal, Journal of the European Economic Association, Journal of Development Economics, Journal of International Economics, Journal of Labor Economics, Journal of Public Economics, Review of Economics & Statistics 等期刊匿名审稿人。她于2011年本科毕业于北航经管学院金融系，2016年博士毕业于清华经管学院经济系，2016-2019年在瑞士苏黎世大学经济系从事博士后研究工作。

Abstract: This paper studies the responses of students' college major choices to trade tensions in the context of the U.S.-China trade war. By analyzing granular college admission data, we find that the U.S. tariffs targeting China's high-tech industries have unexpectedly raised admission scores for STEM majors. A 1% increase in export tariff exposure results in a 2–3% rise in standardized admission scores for school-major combinations, particularly in engineering disciplines and elite universities. This "defensive innovation'' phenomenon is driven by firms’ increased investments and stronger government support in affected industries, leading to greater demand for high-skilled workers. As U.S. tariffs rise, firms receive more subsidies and offer higher wages for R&D occupations, incentivizing students to pursue areas critical to China’s technological progress.