my favourite quote (so far)

Wanna share a morning podcast golden quote that marks the beginning of a brilliant day.

November 23, 2023

Echoes in Pandora's Box

In a humorous twist of fate, our mechanism design course unveils the curious case of two student groups unwittingly mirroring each other’s presentations on Pandora’s Box, spotlighting the ironic interplay of choice and chance in academic endeavors.

November 22, 2023

slide into success - Mastering Visual Aids in Academic Presentations

Navigating the tricky balance of engaging and informative slides in academic talks, where visuals can both command and complement the narrative.

November 21, 2023

fake review

Earlier this week, a post touched on the murky world of fake reviews. A pivotal 2021 study in SIGecom Exchanges by He et al. delved into this labyrinth on the behemoth platform, Amazon. The dance between third-party sellers, consumers, and the platform itself is somewhat like a strategic ballet, with each trying to outmaneuver the other for a sliver of extra margin. It’s an intricate competitive ecosystem where strategy meets survival....

November 20, 2023

bling-bling blockchains outsmarting counterfeits

What a surprisingly awesome Sunday afternoon! Professor Hubert Pun from Ivey Business School graced SUFE with his presence and insights, discussing his research: “Counterfeiting and Traceability in Secondary Markets.” Certificates of the authenticity of luxury goods aren’t necessarily real, especially on the secondary market. Counterfeiters are adept at creating fakes that are often sold at prices comparable to genuine products. And even, sometimes people knowingly buy fake items, like knock-off LV bags, just for the logo....

November 19, 2023

the bead bracelet boom

In a city like Shanghai where affluence and ennui often walk hand in hand, it is never in lack of crazily rich yet bored people seeking an emotional sanctuary to spare time and spend money.

November 18, 2023

bookworm's buffet

Here’s a list of to-read papers, books, and blogs. I’ll be updating you on my thoughts and insights both during and after I finish each one. And before finishing at least half of the list, I promise not to be wasting any time on Instagram or any e-commerce shopping platform. On Search Costs and Platforms A fascinating collection of papers intersecting econ and CS. Ngwe et al. 2019, “The Impact of Increasing Search Frictions on Online Shopping Behavior: Evidence from a Field Experiment”....

November 17, 2023

free cups and economic puzzles: a comedian's guide to market incentives

Last night was an eye-opener in more ways than one. I went to a small talk show with a friend. Picture this: a simple setup, just 200 people in the audience, watching comedians who balance their humor with day jobs. It promised to be a low-key yet entertaining evening. Also, something piqued my interest as an economics enthusiast. The host announced they were giving away free souvenirs – a glass cup or a bag – but with a twist....

November 16, 2023

procrastination 101

deadline-driven assignment management under irrationality and uncertainty

November 15, 2023

when the equilibrium price plays hard to get

Today, I had the opportunity to meet with the professor guiding my research in economics. Our work integrates the interdisciplinary fields of game theory and elements of computer science. The current research problem that we’re focusing on, is outlined as follows: Consider a market with two firms (denoted as $i = 1, 2$), each selling an identical product to unit-demand consumer. These firms set their respective prices, $p_1$ and $p_2$, which are transparent to the consumers....

November 14, 2023