Xuexin Li
Portrait of Xuexin Li

xli2394@wisc.edu

Curriculum Vitae

Xuexin Li

Pronounced shweh-sheen

Ph.D. Candidate in Economics
University of Wisconsin–Madison

My research is in international economics and macroeconomics. I study how global economic changes shape firms’ production, sourcing, exporting, and innovation decisions, and how those choices affect aggregate productivity and growth.

Upcoming Presentation

Midwest Macroeconomics Meeting

Research

Co-production and Multi-Product Firms in the Global Economy Abstract

World trade is dominated by firms that sell multiple products to multiple destinations. We show that expenditure on shared, non-rival inputs links product and destination choices and propagates trade shocks within these firms. Using Chinese customs data, we find that firms more exposed to the textile and apparel quota removal establish new export relationships for untreated products and destinations, mainly by introducing new products into existing markets. Lower prices and higher quantities in continuing untreated relationships suggest firm-wide cost reductions. We develop a multi-product multi-destination exporter model with product-specific competencies, heterogeneous product–destination demand, and non-rival shared inputs that lower marginal costs within firm. Heterogeneous demand induces firms to allocate products toward destinations where demand is strongest, while product expansion raises the return to shared-input expenditure, which in turn supports further expansion. Quantitatively, shared-input expenditure amplifies foreign consumption gains from quota removal and propagates U.S. tariff shocks to third markets. Subsidizing shared-input expenditure in China further increases consumption gains abroad.

Presentations

with Chengyuan He and Wentao Zhou SSRN

Imported Inputs and the Direction of Innovation Abstract

How does access to imported inputs change what firms innovate? Using linked production, customs, and patent data for Chinese manufacturers, I classify independent patent claims as product or process innovations. After firms begin importing, they patent more, cite more inventions from their source countries in related technology fields, and shift toward product innovation. In a dynamic model, imported inputs lower innovation costs, and new products expand firm scope and raise the returns to later process innovation. Policy counterfactuals show that higher trade costs disproportionately reduce the gains from importing for mid-productivity firms that both import and innovate.

Presentations

  • Midwest International Trade & Theory Conference · Spring 2026
  • Minnesota–Wisconsin International-Macro Student Workshop · Fall 2026

Teaching

Selected Student Evaluations

“What else can you expect from a TA? BEST TA ever!”

More student comments

“Xuexin is the best TA I've ever met. She's understanding and empathetic, showing compassion for all students' difficulties.”

“Her presentation was exceptionally clear and well‑structured, guiding us smoothly through each topic and highlighting the key takeaways.”

“Xuexin is great, very diligent and responsive, her handouts are well organized and helpful.”

“Thank you for being so supportive, Xuexin!”

“Perfect!!! I will choose a course if she is the ta!”