Research Impact

Faculty in the Department of Government and International Affairs conduct impactful research ensuring that our rigorous scholarship is translated into real world impact. 

National-subnational identities in Hong Kong

National identity among Hong Kong’s residents is a highly topical issue with significant policy implications across a range of areas including education, social cohesion and government spending. However, currently available data for policymakers usually relies on a one-dimensional approach that may paint a misleading picture of Hong Kong’s current social reality.

Terry Yang’s research applies modern computational analysis tools and techniques to historic datasets to create a more accurate and granular understanding of the evolving prevalence and complexity of different mixed identities in the Hong Kong population. The finding suggests that the conventional one-dimensional approach underestimates the proportion of mixed identities in the population. The research suggests a revised method to measure identity: a clustering analysis on multiple indicators is able to capture identities in Hong Kong more accurately, which provides a stronger evidence base for policy decisions.

The National-subnational Identities in Hong Kong policy brief provides more detailed information.

The research article (open-access): “Decoding Mixed Identities in Hong Kong: A Clustering Analysis of Multiple Identity Indicators.” Social Indicators Research https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-023-03248-w.

Policy and Practice Impact

Research articles penned by faculty has been widely cited in legislation, by governments and international organization and think tanks (from Overton): 

Professor Chien-peng Chung has been cited by think tanks and government departments in France, Denmark, South Korea, Germany, India, Singapore, UK, such as the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, as well as international agencies such as Human Rights Watch. 

Professor Shalendra Sharma has been cited in policy proposal and documents in India, Italy, Australia, Germany, as well as international organizations such as WHO, International Labor Organization, African Development Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN.

Professor Richard M. Walker has consulted for the APEC, OCED, UNDP and governments in Hong Kong and the UK. His research impact is seen through citation in policy documents. This includes in President Biden’s Financial Year 2023 Budget and the US Budget Guidance for Federal Agencies alongside Swedish legislation, the Portuguese Parliament and agencies including the European Commission, OECD, Office of the European Union, WHO, World Bank and a range of think tanks and governments in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Italy, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, Turkey, UK, and USA.

Professor Baohui Zhang has been cited in policy proposals by influential think tanks, such as the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, RAND Organization, Stimson Center in the United States, and Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in India.

Organizations Citing Our Work