On October 29, 2024, Professor Richard Freeman, the Herbert Ascherman Professor of Economics at Harvard University, visited the Fudan Institute for Global Public Policy (IGPP) and engaged in in-depth academic exchanges. Professor Freeman is a research fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research and co-director of the Center for Labor and a Just Economy at the Harvard Law School. His research covers multiple fields, including Chinese and South Korean labor markets, artificial intelligence and employment, and big data analysis.

Professor Yijia Jing, on behalf of IGPP, warmly welcomed Professor Freeman and expressed the hope that the exchange would inspire the young faculty members. Professor Freeman conveyed his enthusiasm for collaborating and engaging with the faculty on academic topics.

Seven young faculty members introduced their research areas and sought guidance from Professor Freeman. In response, Professor Freeman offered an in-depth analysis of the challenges and opportunities presented by the development of artificial intelligence in academic research. He emphasized the critical importance of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing real-world problems and encouraged the young faculty to remain adaptable in applying research methods and exploring innovative strategies. Professor Freeman commended the research directions of the young faculty, urging them to be bold in their innovations and to focus on the practical application of their academic findings.

On October 31, Professor Freeman met with both domestic and international students from IGPP, engaging in discussions on a range of current issues. Drawing on international trends, Professor Freeman explored the critical role of policy design in addressing inequality and promoting sustainable development. Regarding the application of big data tools, he advised students not to overly rely on model-based analysis but to focus on understanding the underlying factors behind the data in order to uncover deeper social patterns.

During the visit, Professor Freeman participated in the 3rd Fudan-LSE Annual Academic Conference and delivered a keynote speech. In addition, he gave the 61st lecture in the Fudan-LSE Lecture Series on the topic "Creating and Connecting US and China Science: Chinese Diaspora and Returnee Researchers."