Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lei Nie | Economy | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lei Nie | Economy – Associate professor at Shanxi University of Finance & Economics, China

Dr. Nie Lei is a dedicated and accomplished researcher specializing in resource-based economics, sustainable regional development, and urban land use efficiency. He currently serves as an Associate Professor at the Research Institute of Resource-based Economics, Shanxi University of Finance & Economics. With a strong background in both domestic and international research settings, Dr. Nie has earned recognition for his significant contributions to environmental economics and spatial development analysis. His work focuses on bridging theoretical insights with practical solutions for industrial transformation in resource-based cities, making his research relevant to current global challenges such as climate change, sustainable urbanization, and ecological efficiency.

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Education

Dr. Nie’s academic journey began at Anhui Agricultural University, where he earned his undergraduate degree in Management of Public Services in 2009. He continued at the same institution for his master’s degree in Industrial Economy, which he completed in 2013. Driven by a passion for resource planning and environmental management, he pursued a Ph.D. in Land Resource Management at Nanjing Agricultural University, graduating in 2017. His educational trajectory highlights a clear and consistent focus on integrating economic theory with land and resource sustainability.

Experience

Dr. Nie began his professional academic career in 2018 as a Lecturer at Shanxi University of Finance & Economics. Recognized for his scholarly contributions and teaching excellence, he was promoted to Associate Professor in 2022. From October 2022 to October 2023, he served as a Visiting Scholar at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he expanded his research perspectives and fostered international collaborations. His teaching portfolio includes Development Economics, Industrial Economics, and Coordinated Regional Development, reflecting his commitment to both theoretical knowledge and its real-world applications.

Research Interests

Dr. Nie’s research interests lie in the fields of resource economics, regional sustainable development, and production efficiency analysis. He investigates topics such as urban land use efficiency, green total factor productivity, the digital economy’s environmental impact, and the coordination of key systems like water, food, and energy. His interdisciplinary approach combines spatial econometrics, sustainability assessment, and economic modeling, offering valuable insights into improving policy outcomes in rapidly evolving urban and industrial regions.

Awards

While specific individual awards are not listed in his profile, Dr. Nie’s academic trajectory—including his promotion to Associate Professor and his selection as a Visiting Scholar in the United States—demonstrates institutional and international recognition of his scholarly excellence. His growing presence in high-impact journals and leadership in interdisciplinary research speak to the quality and importance of his contributions to the field.

Selected Publications

Dr. Nie has authored numerous impactful publications in both Chinese and international journals. Below are seven selected papers that exemplify his contributions to sustainability, spatial economics, and regional development, each accompanied by a brief note and emoji for thematic context:

📘 Coupled coordination of the water–food–energy system in nine provinces of the Yellow River Basin (Water, 2025) – This study offers a systems-based approach to sustainability coordination and has already been cited in policy-oriented environmental research.

📊 Service sector agglomeration and industrial structure optimisation: evidence from China’s resource-based cities (Asian-Pacific Economic Literature, 2024) – Explores how service industry clusters influence structural economic reform, particularly in older industrial zones.

🏙 Urban industrial land misallocation and green total factor productivity (Australian Economic Papers, 2024) – Investigates the spatial mismatch of industrial land and its impact on ecological productivity.

🌱 The impact of the digital economy on total-factor carbon emission efficiency in the Yellow River Basin (Systems, 2024) – A timely analysis on how digital transformation affects emission efficiency; frequently cited in green tech innovation studies.

🌐 Spatial effects of service industry’s heterogeneous agglomeration on industrial structure optimization (Systems, 2024) – Uses spatial econometrics to measure the uneven effects of service concentration on development models.

🏞 Performance evaluation of green transformation of resource-based cities (Inquiry into Economic Issues, 2022) – Empirical study involving 114 prefecture-level cities in China; cited in Chinese policy planning research.

🏘 Measurement and influencing factors of urban land use efficiency (Inquiry into Economic Issues, 2022) – Focuses on land use metrics and urban planning, referenced in urban sustainability modeling articles.

Conclusion

In summary, Dr. Nie Lei is a highly promising and productive researcher whose work is deeply relevant to pressing economic and environmental issues. His commitment to sustainable development, interdisciplinary research, and academic mentorship is evident in both his scholarly output and professional growth. As urbanization accelerates and environmental pressures rise, Dr. Nie’s research offers crucial insights for policymakers, planners, and academics alike. He stands as a compelling candidate for the Best Researcher Award, with the vision, skills, and impact to continue advancing knowledge and practical solutions in the years to come.