Basic Information

Email Address

• Email Address

  zhai.yalei.4xkyoto-u.ac.jp

Professional Memberships

• THE JAPAN SOCIETY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
• JAPAN ASSOCIATION FOR ASIAN STUDIES
• THE AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS SOCIETY OF JAPAN

Academic Degree

• 24 Sep. 2013

  京都大学修士（経済学）
• 26 Mar. 2018

  京都大学博士（経済学）

Academic Resume (Graduate Schools)

• 京都大学, 大学院経済学研究科博士後期課程経済学専攻, 修了
• 京都大学, 大学院経済学研究科博士後期課程経済学専攻, 研究指導認定退学
• 京都大学, 大学院経済学研究科修士課程経済学専攻, 修了

Research History

• From Sep. 2023, To Present

  Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, Associate Professor
• From Apr. 2020, To Aug. 2023

  Shinshu University, Faculty of Economics and Law Department of Economics, Lecturer
• From May 2018, To Mar. 2020

  Assistant Professor, 大学院経済学研究科, 特定助教
• From Apr. 2016, To Mar. 2018

  JSPS Research Fellow
• From Apr. 2014, To Sep. 2015

  Health Poverty Action (UK), Eastern Asia Programme Office, 専門調査員、同NGO研修セミナー講師（英国）

ID,URL

• J-Global ID

  201801019134107384

• Researcher number

  40837572

Website(s) (URL(s))

• https://researchmap.jp/yalei

researchmap URL

• https://researchmap.jp/yalei

Research

Research Interests

• Development Economics
• Machine Learning
• Southeast Asia
• Decision making
• Poverty
• Myanmar

Research Areas

• Humanities & social sciences, Economic policy, Development Economics
• Humanities & social sciences, Local studies, ミャンマー

Papers

• 

  High Confucian Familism Adherence but Low Fertility Intentions: Evidence From the Lowest Fertility Rate City in China

  Yalei Zhai

  Journal of Family Issues, Apr. 2026, Peer-reviewed, Lead author, Last author, Corresponding author

  Access this paper :

  
• 

  Weathering the storm: impacts of extreme climate events on food security in Southeast Asia and pathways to resilience

  Fang Su; Mengwei Gu; Yalei Zhai

  Food Security, 19 Mar. 2026, Peer-reviewed, Last author, Corresponding author

  
• Exploring the Role of Contextual Evidence in Understanding the Myanmar-Yunnan (China) Border from a Microeconomic Perspective

  Yalei ZHAI

  Kyoto review of Southeast Asia, 07 Sep. 2025, Lead author, Last author, Corresponding author

  
• 「第三章 女性生育意願及其影響因素：以天津為例」少子老龄化与可持续发展研究

  Yalei Zhai

  Mar. 2025

  
• The Impact of Violent Conflicts on Borrowing and Lending Behavior of Rural Households: Evidence from Northern Myanmar

  Yalei Zhai

  Faculty of Economics and Law Shinshu University Staff Paper Series, 21 Nov. 2022, Lead author, Corresponding author

  
• 

  The poor receive less: Remittance behaviour of female migrants in Myanmar

  Yalei Zhai; Hisaki Kono

  Journal of International Development, Jul. 2021, Peer-reviewed, Lead author

  
• Who Evacuated and Who Was Left Behind?: Exploring the Effects of Household Wealth on Evacuation Behavior in War-shattered Rural Myanmar

  ZHAI Yalei

  Joint Workshop between Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University and Graduate School of Economics and Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, Mar. 2019, Lead author, Last author, Corresponding author

  
• Essays on Rural Poverty in Northern Myanmar

  Yalei Zhai

  Kyoto University, 26 Mar. 2018, Peer-reviewed, Lead author, Last author, Corresponding author

  
• Can Remittance Be an Effective Poverty Alleviation Strategy? Evidence from Myanmar

  ZHAI Yalei; Hisaki KONO

  HAYAMI Conference, Dec. 2016, Peer-reviewed, Lead author

  
• 

  Opium Eradication and Rural Socio-Economic Transformations in Kokang, Myanmar : With Special Focus on the Impact of Sugarcane Contract Farming by a Chinese Company

  翟 亜蕾; 藤田 幸一

  アジア経済 = Quarterly journal of Institute of Developing Economies Japan External Trade Organization, Mar. 2016, Peer-reviewed, Lead author, Last author, Corresponding author

  
• Cross-border contract sugarcane farming from China to Myanmar: The state of China's Opium Substitution Programme and its effects on poverty reduction

  ZHAI Yalei

  Kyoto University, Sep. 2013, Peer-reviewed

  

Misc.

• Linking Farmers to Markets: Alternative Agricultural Development in Kokang, Myanmar

  Yalei ZHAI

  Better Health for the Uprooted People in Kokang Project of European Union, Apr. 2015, Lead author, Last author, Corresponding author

  
• Development of Non-farm Employment in Kokang, Myanmar: Strategies to Eliminate Rural Poverty

  Yalei ZHAI

  Building the Capacity of Local Government and Civil Society for Poverty Reduction in Conflict Torn and Poverty Stricken Kokang, Jan. 2015, Lead author, Last author, Corresponding author

  

Presentations

• Climate Change and Fertility in Southeast Asia: Development-Dependent Associations with Climate Extremes

  Yalei Zhai

  THE 6TH SEASIA BIENNIAL CONFERENCE 2026 Forging Southeast Asia's Futures, 08 Jul. 2026

  
• Beyond Crop Substitution: Alternative Development, Gendered Migration, and Household Strategies in Kokang,Myanmar

  Yalei Zhai

  15 May 2026, Invited

  
• From Fieldwork to Evidence: Bringing Context into Empirical Economic Research

  Yalei Zhai

  Mahidol University. IPSR seminar, 05 May 2026, Invited

  
• Wealth Constraints on Forced Migration and Livelihood Transitions: Displacement Choice, Intensity, and Duration in Myanmar

  Yalei Zhai

  Western Economics Association International, 18th International Conference, 01 Apr. 2026

  
• Climate Extremes and Food Security in Southeast Asia

  Yalei Zhai

  CSEAS Bangkok Young Scholars Salon：Thailand in Transition, 15 Jan. 2026

  
• Opium, Casinos, Conflicts, and Poverty in the Myanmar-China Border: A Household-level Quantitative Approach

  Yalei Zhai

  The 49th Southeast Asia Seminar, the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, 22 Nov. 2025

  
• Remittances, Marriage Markets, and Household Trade-offs in Poverty Alleviation: Evidence from Female Migrant Workers in Myanmar

  Yalei Zhai

  School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Peking University, 02 Sep. 2025, Invited

  
• Marriage Market or Family Remittances? Rationality’s Limits in Poverty Alleviation

  Yalei Zhai

  School of Population and Health, Renmin University of China, 01 Sep. 2025, Invited

  
• Exploring the mechanisms behind decision-making in fleeing armed conflict: Evidence from the Myanmar-China border

  Yalei Zhai

  A Joint Workshop Between the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, and the National Centre for Borderland Ethnic Studies in Southwest China, Yunnan University, 25 Nov. 2024

  
• A Moderated Mediation Analysis on the Factors Influencing Fleeing Patterns in War-shattered Myanmar

  Yalei Zhai

  JAHSS & JASID Joint International Conference 2024, 10 Nov. 2024

  
• Opium, Casinos, Conflicts, and Poverty in the Myanmar-China Border: A Household-level Quantitative Approach

  Yalei ZHAI

  The 47th Southeast Asia Seminar “Health, Border, and Marginality: Toward Transdisciplinarity?, 09 Nov. 2023

  
• Confucian Family Values and Fertility Intentions: Understanding China's Post-One-Child Declining Birthrates

  Yalei ZHAI

  The 17th International Conference of the Western Economic Association International (WEAI), 13 Apr. 2023

  
• Cross-border marriages and fertility intentions: evidence from Myanmarese brides in Yunnan, China

  Yalei ZHAI

  Webinar Towards Understanding Grassroots Perspectives in Myanmar under COVID-19, 26 Dec. 2022, Women and Children Federation of Kokang, Myanmar

  
• Confucian Family Values and Fertility Intentions: understanding the decreasing birthrates in Post-one-child China

  Yalei ZHAI

  Webinar of China's Fertility Change: Data and Measures, China Center for Agricultural Policy(CCAP), 19 Dec. 2022, China Center for Agricultural Policy(CCAP), Peking University, China

  
• Confucian Family Values and Fertility Intentions: understanding the decreasing birthrates in Post-one-child China

  Yalei ZHAI

  信州大学先鋭領域融合研究群社会基盤研究所データサイエンス（DS）部門ミーティング, 16 Nov. 2022

  
• Traditional Childbearing Values and Fertility Decisions: A Study of Recent Chinese Data

  Yalei ZHAI

  International Conference on Physiography and Geography, 25 Aug. 2022

  
• 中国の少子化対策と「一人っ子エリート主義」―『天津市民生育意識調査』に基づいて―

  翟亜蕾

  日本人口学会関西地域部会・2021年度研究会, 13 Mar. 2022

  
• ミャンマー農村の世帯貧困とその脆弱性

  翟亜蕾

  信州大学先鋭領域融合研究群社会基盤研究所研究ミーティング, 07 Feb. 2022

  
• Does Marriage Demand Stimulate Consumption? Marriage Competition among Female Migrants in Northern Myanmar

  Yalei Zhai

  Webinar of Marriage Migration in Ageing China, National Social Science Fund of China, 14 Sep. 2021

  
• Evacuation decision-making during armed conflict Evidence from Myanmar

  Yalei Zhai

  the 22nd JASID Spring Conference, 12 Jun. 2021

  
• Household Financial Strategies in Post-conflict Rural Myanmar

  Yalei Zhai

  2021年度日本農業経済学会大会, 28 Mar. 2021

  
• Traditional Childbearing Values and Fertility Decisions: A Study of Recent Chinese Data

  Yalei Zhai

  アジア政経学会2020年春季大会, 07 Nov. 2020

  
• 中国の伝統的出生観は人々の出生意識に影響を与えるか―『天津市民生育意識調査』に基づいて―

  Yalei Zhai

  中国経済経営学会2020 年全国大会, 18 Oct. 2020, 中国経済経営学会

  
• Understandings on the Contributions of Traditional Cultural Values on Childbearing and Fertility Behavior in China

  Yalei Zhai

  「中国における少子高齢化と持続可能の発展」ウェビナー研究会 National Social Science Fund of China, 02 Jul. 2020, 「中国における少子高齢化と持続可能の発展」ウェビナー研究会 National Social Science Fund of China

  
• The Ethnic and Cultural Factors behind the Decision-making of Burmese Women

  ZHAI Yalei

  京都大学東南アジア地域研究研究所「東南アジア研究の国際共同研究拠点」年次研究成果発表会, 14 Feb. 2020

  
• The Effects of Household Wealth on Household Evacuation Patterns: Evidence from Myanmar

  ZHAI Yalei

  the 4th Thammasat Annual Academics and Post Graduate Conference in Asia-Pacific Studies, 13 Dec. 2019

  
• Civil Conflicts and Displaced Households: Lessons from War-shattered Northern Myanmar

  ZHAI Yalei

  Conference of Southeast Asian Studies in Asia, the Consortium for Southeast Asian Studies in Asia (SEASIA), 06 Dec. 2019

  
• ミャンマーにおける麻薬代替開発と農村貧困

  翟亜蕾

  ASEANの連結と亀裂の研究：供給連鎖・資源・領有権の東アジア的地経学・地政学第7回研究会、同志社大学, 22 Oct. 2019

  
• 「内戦紛争と農村家計の金融行動に関する実証研究」（“The Impact of Internal Conflicts on Borrowing and Lending Behavior of Rural Households: Evidence from Northern Myanmar”）

  Yalei Zhai

  アジア政経学会2019年春季大会, 09 Jun. 2019, アジア政経学会

  
• The Impact of Conflict Shocks on Borrowing and Lending Behavior of Rural Households: Evidence from Northern Myanmar

  Yalei Zhai

  Collaborative Meeting between Faculty of Economics, Kyoto University and Faculty of Economics, Kasetsart University, 05 Mar. 2019

  
• Individual Mating Decisions, Parental Control, and Family Wealth: Consumption Behavior of Female Migrants in Northern Myanmar

  Yalei Zhai

  International Symposium on Economic Growth in East Asia: Experiences, Lessons and Future Directions, 01 Dec. 2018, International Symposium on Economic Growth in East Asia: Experiences, Lessons and Future Directions, Invited

  
• Can Remittance Be an Effective Poverty Alleviation Strategy? Evidence from Myanmar

  ZHAI Yalei

  HAYAMI Conference, 10 Dec. 2016

  
• Can Remittance Be an Effective Poverty Alleviation Strategy? Evidence from Myanmar

  Yalei Zhai and Hisaki Kono

  アジア経済学発展研究会セミナー, 03 Dec. 2016, 京都大学経済学研究科

  
• Does remittance flow associated with migration alleviate poverty? Evidence from Myanmar

  ZHAI Yalei

  アジア政経学会秋季大会, 19 Nov. 2016

  
• Do Migration and Remittances Reduce Poverty? Evidence from Myanmar

  Yalei Zhai

  International Joint Graduate Seminar in Chiang Mai University, 21 Sep. 2016, International Joint Graduate Seminar in Chiang Mai University

  
• Impact of Poppy Eradication and Introduction of Sugarcane Contract Farming in a Village under Highly Inequitable Land Distribution in Kokang, Shan State, Myanmar

  ZHAI Yalei

  Conference of Southeast Asian Studies in Asia, the Consortium for Southeast Asian Studies in Asia (SEASIA), 12 Dec. 2015

  
• 麻薬代替開発と農村社会経済―ミャンマー・コーカン自治区の例を中心に

  翟亜蕾

  ゾミア研究会, 05 Jul. 2015

  
• Livelihoods under Alternative Development to Opium Poppy in Kokang, Myanmar: Non-farm Employment and Its Impact

  ZHAI Yalei

  International Graduate Workshop Wageningen University, 12 Mar. 2015

  
• ミャンマー・コーカン自治区における麻薬代替開発と農村階層間格差の拡大

  翟亜蕾

  大阪産業大学・同大学アジア共同体研究センター共催国際シンポジウム“Economic Development and International Cooperation in Asia”, 28 Jan. 2015, Invited

  
• ミャンマーの麻薬代替作物導入と農家経済―中国国境・コーカン地域におけるサトウキビ契約栽培の事例―

  翟亜蕾

  日本農業経済学会大会, 30 Mar. 2014

  
• Cross-border Contract Sugarcane Farming and Poverty Reduction

  ZHAI Yalei

  International Graduate Workshop, Gadjah Mada University, 23 Sep. 2013

  
• Golden Triangle Today: The State of China’s Opium Substitution Programme and Contract Sugarcane Farming

  ZHAI Yalei

  International Graduate Workshop, Thammasat University, 16 Aug. 2013

  
• Cross-border Contracting Farming between China and Myanmar

  ZHAI Yalei

  International Graduate Seminar, Heidelberg University, 20 Mar. 2013

  

Books and Other Publications

• Research on Declining Birthrate, Aging Population and Sustainable Development

  Yalei ZHAI, Contributor, Confucian Family Values and Fertility Intentions: Understanding China's Post-One-Child Declining Birthrates

  People's Press (Beijing), Mar. 2025

  Find Kyoto University's collection of books :

  

Awards

• 06 Aug. 2019

  令和元年度前期授業改善アンケート 優秀者表彰（大阪産業大学）
• 01 Nov. 2015

  優秀論文賞（中国留日同学会創立20周年記念)

External funds: Kakenhi

• Who Fled and Who Was Left Behind?: A Casual Inference on the Role of Household Wealth on Sharping Fleeing Patterns

  Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists

  Basic Section 07040:Economic policy-related

  Kyoto University

  テキ アライ

  From 01 Apr. 2025, To 31 Mar. 2029, Granted

  displaced people;fleeing decisions;wealth structure

  https://kaken.nii.ac.jp/grant/KAKENHI-PROJECT-25K16626/
• Does Ethnic Linkage Act on the Integration of Migrants into the Host Society? The Case of Cross-border Myanmar Migrants in Rural Yunnan

  Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists

  Basic Section 07040:Economic policy-related

  Kyoto University;Shinshu University

  テキ アライ

  From 01 Apr. 2021, To 31 Mar. 2026, Granted

  雇用差別;労働市場;文化的要因;国境地域;Cultural values;Confucianism;Fertility rate;One-child policy;移民;結婚;結婚市場;差別;雇用関係;外国人労働者;ミャンマー;少数民族

  https://kaken.nii.ac.jp/grant/KAKENHI-PROJECT-21K13280/
• 出稼ぎ者の送金行動とミャンマー農村貧困削減についての経済分析

  Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows

  Kyoto University

  テキ アライ

  From 22 Apr. 2016, To 31 Mar. 2018, Project Closed

  出稼ぎ労働者;ミャンマー農村;送金行動;貧困削減;東南アジア;麻薬代替栽培;経済格差;女性移民

  https://kaken.nii.ac.jp/grant/KAKENHI-PROJECT-16J12056/

Administration

Faculty management (title, position)

• From 01 Apr. 2026, To 31 Mar. 2027

  海外拠点委員会
• From 01 Apr. 2026, To 31 Mar. 2027

  国際交流委員会
• From 01 Apr. 2024, To 31 Mar. 2027

  英文誌編集委員会
• From 01 Apr. 2024, To 31 Mar. 2027

  東アジア／海外研究ネットワーク委員会
• From 01 Apr. 2024, To 31 Mar. 2026

  SEASIA委員会
• From 01 Apr. 2024, To 31 Mar. 2027

  図書委員会
• From 01 Apr. 2024, To 31 Mar. 2027

  GCRセンター

Academic, Social Contribution

Committee Memberships

• From 2015, To Present

  顧問, ミャンマー・コーカン婦人児童連合会

Academic Contribution

• WEAI Research Publication and International Collaboration Brainstorm＠CSEAS Bangkok Liaison Office

  Planning, management, etc., Panel moderator

  CSEAS Bangkok Liaison Office, Kyoto University, From 03 Apr. 2026

  
• From Shocks to Social Outcomes: Climate Extremes and Human Responses in Southeast Asia

  Planning, management, etc., Panel moderator

  THE 6TH SEASIA BIENNIAL CONFERENCE 2026 Forging Southeast Asia's Futures, From 11 Jul. 2026

  
• Time Use as a Lens: Comparative Analysis of Life Course, Social Roles, and Well-being in China and Japan

  Panel moderator

  日本人口学会第78回大会, From 06 Jun. 2026

  
• Transitions and Mobility in Asian Labor Markets: Education, Informality, Migration, Western Economics Association International

  Panel moderator

  18th Western Economists Association International Conference, From 01 Apr. 2026

  
• Utility and Life-Cycle Choices: An Economics Perspective

  Other

  Seminar in Industrial Economics (Semester 2/2025) International Program (B.E.) Faculty of Economics, Thammasat University, From 02 Feb. 2026

  
• CSEAS Bangkok Young Scholars Salon：Thailand in Transition

  Planning, management, etc., Panel moderator

  International Workshop at Kyoto University CSEAS Bangkok, From 15 Jan. 2026

  
• Tea, Talk, and Trends: Fertility, Migration, and Development in East Asia

  Planning, management, etc., Panel moderator

  An informal conversation on demographic change, child development, and rural transformations in China and Japan, From 09 Aug. 2025

  
• Biodiversity and Food Security in Southeast Asia: Linking Traditional Knowledge, Regional Landscapes, and Economic Practice

  Planning, management, etc., Panel moderator

  CSEAS International Seminar, From 31 Jul. 2025

  
• A Joint Workshop Between the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, and the National Centre for Borderland Ethnic Studies in Southwest China, Yunnan University

  Planning, management, etc., Panel moderator

  CSEAS, Kyoto University, From 25 Nov. 2024

  
• 「経済学研究における京大式フィールドワーク」

  Other

  第 19 回 京都大学附置研・センターシンポジウム「京都からの挑戦 － 地球社会の調和ある共存に向けて」松本講演会，まつもと市民芸術館。, From 02 Mar. 2024

  
• COVID-19, Income Shock, and Gender Equality Webinar: Women in the COVID-19 Pandemic”, Women and Children Federation of Kokang, Myanmar （ZOOMオンライン）

  Panel moderator

  From Dec. 2020

  
• Session 6: Trade & Development The 4th Thammasat Annual Academics and Post Graduate Conference in Asia-Pacific Studies

  Panel moderator

  From Dec. 2019

  
• Panel 11.4 Pressures on Economies and Vulnerable Populations, Sub-Theme XI. Challenged to Economic Validity, Conference of Southeast Asian Studies in Asia

  Panel moderator

  The Consortium for Southeast Asian Studies in Asia (SEASIA), From Dec. 2019