Skip to main
This is Dr. Samuel Zhang expert profile image

Dr. Samuel Zhang

Senior Lecturer, Economics/ Econometrics

Contact

Campus

Mt Helen Campus

Biography

Dr Samuel Zhang is a senior lecturer in economics at Federation University Australia, and a Fellow at the Global Labor Organization. Before joining Federation University, Samuel served as a Dean’s Research Fellow at the Department of Economics, Deakin University. Samuel holds a PhD in economics from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT University).

Samuel is an applied economist and an expert on the Chinese economy. Samuel’s research examines economic development, household welfare, financial inclusion, inequality, and subjective wellbeing. He utilizes rigorous research methods founded on sound economic theory to formulate evidence-based economic and social policy recommendations. The research outcomes help policymakers and the public achieve sustainable development and promote economic welfare.

Samuel has published extensively in top peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Journal of Development Studies and Energy Economics. His evidence-based and policy-relevant research has been featured by major media such as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the World Economic Forum. Currently, Samuel serves as an Editor at the Journal of Applied Economics and the Frontiers in Public Health.

A native Mandarin Chinese speaker, Samuel welcomes opportunities for research and advisory work on economic development and public policy evaluation. 

Available for

HDR Supervision

Professional Comment

HDR Examiner

Is this your profile? Submit an update

More about Samuel

Qualifications

  • PhD in Economics, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT University) 
  • Master of Economics, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics 
  • Graduate Certificate in Education (Tertiary Education), Federation University Australia 
  • Bachelor of Economics (Finance), Henan University of Technology 
  • Bachelor of Arts (English Language and Literature), Henan University of Technology 

Areas of interest

  • Applied economics 
  • Economic development 
  • The Chinese economy 
  • Environmental economics 
  • Energy economics 
  • Public policy evaluation 

Areas of expertise

As an applied economist and an expert on the Chinese economy, Samuel has expertise on economic development, household welfare, financial inclusion, inequality and subjective wellbeing. He undertakes research in collaboration with the Collaborative Evaluation and Research Centre (CERC), academic partners at Australian universities, overseas institutions, and engages with professional, policy and communities' audiences through applied research, public commentary, and targeted conferences, seminars and workshops. 

Grants

  • 2023–2024. Development of a Network to Gippsland’s Migration Strategy. Victorian Government Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions. ($50,000) 
  • 2023–2026. Drivers and Inhibitors of Value Adding to Agricultural Products in Rural Victoria, Ararat Rural City Council. ($45,000) 
  • 2020–2021. Factors Affecting Labour Force Participation in Latrobe/Gippsland, Latrobe Valley Authority. ($122,600) 
  • 2019–2020. The Dean’s Research Grant, Deakin University. ($10,000) 

Awards

  • 2025. Commendation for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, Federation University Australia  
  • 2018. RMIT Research Award, RMIT University, Australia 
  • 2016. RMIT Teaching Award, RMIT University, Australia 

Current

  • PhD student, ‘financial inclusion and household welfare’, supervisor 
  • PhD student, ‘Assessing the desirability and viability of a sustainable Australian economy’, supervisor 
  • PhD student, ‘Drivers and inhibitors of value adding to agricultural products in rural Victoria’, supervisor. 

  • Economics units: Microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, business statistics, development economics 
  • Research units: Quantitative methods, research methods, literature review, policy evaluation 
  • Finance units: Financial markets and institutions, investment and portfolio management, financial management  

Specialist roles

  • Senior Lecturer in Economics, Federation University Australia 
  • Course Coordinator in Diplomas, Federation University Australia 
  • Joint Degree Coordinator, Federation University Australia 
  • Editor, Journal of Applied Economics 
  • Editor, Frontiers in Public Health 

Professional association memberships

  • Fellow, Global Labor Organization (GLO) 
  • Member, Economic Society of Australia 

Collaborative Evaluation and Research Centre (CERC)

Samuel is part of the Collaborative Evaluation and Research Centre (CERC), which provides training, workshops and mentoring to build capacity and enable organisations to conduct meaningful evaluations.
  • Publications

Water stress and industrial firm productivity

Household adaptation to economic transformation: the role of financial inclusion in enhancing welfare