Assistant Professor, China Center for Health Development Studies at Peking University
Education Background
2012 - 2015 Pre-Doctoral Fellow, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University
2009－2015 Ph.D., Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Davis
2007－2009 M.S., Economics, Renmin University of China
2003－2007 B.A., Economics, Jilin University
About
As a health and development economist, Dr. Ma’s research focuses on health decision-making and health system strengthening. In the past and ongoing projects, he has led several large-scale randomized trials on improving the access to quality care through digital health and nudge interventions to disadvantaged communities in China. His work has appeared in leading medical and economics journals such as BMJ, Journal of Health Economics. His recent work involves interdisciplinary teams to evaluate the economic analysis of ecological and environmental health impacts.
Research Activities
Featured Publication
1. Sylvia S,Ma X*, Shi Y, Rozelle S. Ordeal Mechanisms, Information, and the Cost-effectiveness of Strategies to Provide Subsidized Eyeglasses. Journal of Health Economics, 2022 January 82:102594.doi: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2022.102594.
2. Ma X*,Wang H, Yang L, Shi L, Liu X. Realigning the Incentive System for China’s Primary Healthcare Providers. BMJ 2019; 365: I2406.
3. Ma X, Zhou Z, Yi H, Pang X, Shi Y, Chen Q, Meltzer M, Cessie S, He M, Rozelle S, Liu Y, Congdon N*. The Effect of Providing Free Glasses on Children’s Educational Outcomes in China: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial. BMJ 2014; 349: g5740.
4. Wang Z, Ma X*, Su C, Zhang Y, Zou X, Balogun M, Bergman H, Liu X, Sourial N, Vedel I. Older Adults' Experiences of Health Seeking in Rural Areas in Low- and Middle-income Countries: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies. Health Policy And Planning. 2025 Oct 28:czaf061. doi: 10.1093/heapol/czaf061.
5. Zhao J, Su C, Zhu X, Cai C, Liu W, Ma X*. Health care Experiences of Educated Young Adults With Blindness in the Digital Age: Qualitative Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2025 Nov 21;27:e79587. doi: 10.2196/79587.
