I write about cities. Some of the issues I frequently explore in order to discuss the urban realm are money, politics, and social relations. They interest me because these factors shape how people organize themselves and allocate the resources for city making.
Below you can read my postgraduate dissertation, professional publications, and scholarly work. The “Other” subsection contains unpublished essays and short entries. Some of them originated from academic research; others are “freer” in structure and less polished in style.
NEW Book Project: Creating the Metropolis 创造大都会
My new book is forthcoming (2024). The title is Creating the Metropolis. Written for Chinese readers, it describes the many features that New Yorkers are used to but others find unique (or strange), and it goes on to analyze the behind-the-scene institutional and economic forces that shape those uniquely New York experiences. My analysis puts an particular emphasis on the critical and sometimes convoluted relationships between the public sphere and the private actors. Topics covered in the book include public spaces (How do some of the most iconic parks pay for their annual maintenance without the government?), communities (Why do some neighborhood associations have more sway than the others?), transportation (Why is the subway so bad?), real estate development (How to build supertalls without the government’s planning review?), and government (What is the strangest aspect of the city’s property tax system?). Reach out if you’d like to discuss this project with me and/or review drafts.
Dissertation:
Selected Publications:
Short Essays:
Column in Chinese:
I aim to update this page regularly with new contents. Please feel free to give feedback or suggestions.