Li Shengwu (economist)

Li Shengwu (Chinese: 李绳武; pinyin: Lǐ Shéngwǔ; born 4 February 1985) is a Singaporean economist residing in the United States. He works as an assistant professor at Harvard University, conducting research mainly on behavioral economics.[3] Li is also the grandson of Lee Kuan Yew, the first prime minister of Singapore.[4]

In this Chinese name, the family name is Li.
Li Shengwu
Born (1985-02-04) 4 February 1985[1][2]
Singapore
CitizenshipSingapore[2]
Alma mater
Known forBehavioral Economics
Parent(s)Lee Hsien Yang
Lee Suet Fern
Scientific career
FieldsEconomics[3]
InstitutionsHarvard University[3]
ThesisEssays in Theoretical and Behavioral Economics (2016)
Doctoral advisorPaul Milgrom
Muriel Niederle
Websitewww.shengwu.li

Education and career

Li received a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy, politics and economics from the University of Oxford in 2009 and obtained a Master of Philosophy degree in economics from Oxford in 2011.[2] Li then pursued a PhD in economics at Stanford University, working on economic theory and behavioral and experimental economics. Upon completing his dissertation titled Essays in Theoretical and Behavioral Economics, Li graduated in 2016.[2][5][6]

Li joined, in 2016, Harvard Society of Fellows as a Junior Fellow.[2][7][3] In 2018, he became an assistant professor of economics at Harvard University.[2][3]

Li received a Sloan Research Fellowship in 2023.[8][4]

Personal life and family

Li was born in 1985 in Singapore to Lee Hsien Yang and Lee Suet Fern.[1][2] He has two younger brothers, Li Huanwu and Li Shaowu.[9]

After the death of Singapore's longtime prime minister Lee Kuan Yew in 2015, Li Shengwu's uncle Lee Hsien Loong, then-prime minister of Singapore, began sparring with his brothers, including Li's father Lee Hsien Yang, over the fate of 38 Oxley Road, the family home that Lee Kuan Yew left behind.[10][11]

When the family dispute became publicized in 2017, Li made a private Facebook post complaining that "the Singapore government is very litigious and has a pliant court system".[12][13] Singapore's Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) subsequently sued Li for contempt of court. Some believe that Li's post and the ensuing lawsuit are related to the family feud.[14][13] Li himself claimed that the charges were "politically motivated".[12] The AGC offered to stop pursuing their lawsuit if Li agrees to issue an apology that admits contempt of court as well as making "false and baseless" statements. However, Li refused to apologize, stating that he has not committed any crimes.[13][14] The case resolved in 2020 when Li agreed to pay a fine of S$15,000, though he refused to concede that his post is illegal and claimed that he paid the fine "to buy some peace and quiet",[14] while the Singapore AGC stated that Li "contrived excuses for running away".[12]

Even after the resolution of the lawsuit in 2020, Li continued to reside in the United States. He claimed in a 2023 interview with the New York Times that he fears being arrested if he returns to Singapore. According to Li, his uncle Lee Hsien Loong, who is in power, "doesn’t want competing claims to legitimacy" and would not take chances.[15] Li claimed that his parents would also be in danger if they return to Singapore because the authorities can detain them indefinitely without access to a lawyer.[16]

When Li received a Sloan Research Fellowship in 2023, Jewel Stolarchuk from The Independent Singapore observed that The Straits Times, the newspaper of record in Singapore, has remained silent on this award, despite multiple prominent Singaporean figures congratulating Li's achievement. Stolarchuk contended that the lack of coverage on this event, as well as other achievements of Li's father's family members, is due to the pressures from the Singaporean government.[17]

Family tree of Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Bok Boon
1846–1920		Seow Huan Neo
1850–c. 1931
Lee Hoon Leong
1871–1942		Ko Liem Nio
1883–1959
Lee Chin Koon
1903–1997[18]		Chua Jim Neo
1907–1980
Lee Kuan Yew
1923–2015		Kwa Geok Choo
1920–2010		Dennis Lee Kim Yew
1925-2003[19]		Gloria Lee (Woo) Sau Yin[20]Freddy Lee Thiam Yew
1927-2012[21]		Eleanor Ngo Puay Chin[20]Monica Lee Kim Mon
b. 1929 or 1930[22]		George Chan Chor Cheung[20]Dr Lee Suan Yew
b. 1933[23]		Pamela Chong[20]
Wong Ming Yang
1951–1982[24]		Lee Hsien Loong
b. 1952		Ho Ching
b. 1953		Lee Wei Ling
b. 1955		Lee Hsien Yang
b. 1957		Lim Suet Fern
b. 1958[25]
Li Xiuqi
b. 1981[26]		Li Yipeng
b. 1982[26]		Li Hongyi
b. 1987[26]		Li Haoyi
b. 1989[26]		Li Shengwu
b. 1985[26]		Li Huanwu
b. 1986[26]		Li Shaowu
b. 1995[26]

References
  1. "A son for Hsien Yang". The Straits Times. February 13, 1985. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  2. Li, Shengwu. "Shengwu Li CV". Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  3. "Shengwu Li | Department of Economics". Harvard University. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  4. Goh, Charlene (February 16, 2023). "Singaporean economist Li Shengwu among 125 'outstanding' researchers in US, Canada selected for prestigious Sloan fellowship". CNA (TV network). Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  5. "Shengwu Li | Department of Economics". Stanford University. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  6. Li, Shengwu (2016). Essays in Theoretical and Behavioral Economics (PhD). Stanford University.
  7. "Listed by Term | Society of Fellows". Harvard University. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  8. "Professor Shengwu Li Named 2023 Sloan Fellow". Harvard University. February 23, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  9. Yong, Nicholas (September 30, 2020). "I'm 'incredibly proud' of my sons' support for Hsien Yang and me in family dispute: Lee Suet Fern". Yahoo News Singapore. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  10. Paddock, Richard C. (August 4, 2017). "In Singapore, Family Feud Deepens Over Facebook Posts". The New York Times. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  11. Lam, Lydia (January 18, 2019). "Court of Appeal hears Li Shengwu's appeal in contempt of court case". Channel News Asia. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  12. Bikales, James S. (February 13, 2020). "Amid Three-Year-Long Controversy, Harvard Economics Prof. Li Withdraws from Singapore Criminal Proceedings". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  13. "Singapore court grants AG permission to begin contempt proceedings against Li Shengwu". Reuters. August 21, 2017. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  14. Agence France-Presse (August 11, 2020). "Singapore PM's nephew Li Shengwu to pay contempt of court fine but won't admit guilt". South China Morning Post. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  15. Stockman, Farah (April 12, 2023). "He Made His Country Rich, but Something Has Gone Wrong With the System". The New York Times. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  16. Rising, David (March 3, 2023). "Singapore PM's brother says govt persecuting his family". The Associated Press. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  17. Stolarchuk, Jewel (February 22, 2023). "OPINION | Straits Times remains silent over Li Shengwu's Sloan Research Fellowship award". The Independent Singapore. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  18. Chua, Alivin. "Lee Chin Koon". Singapore Infopedia.
  19. "Kuan Yew's brother Dennis dies". Archived from the original on 8 January 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  20. "Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, Prime Minister of Singapore, and his family, 1989 – BookSG". National Library Board, Singapore. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  21. "Lee Kuan Yew bids farewell to brother". Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  22. "The Lee Kuan Yew I remember: His sister Monica Lee, 85". Archived from the original on 8 January 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  23. Lee Kuan Yew (1998). The Singapore Story. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish.
  24. Chua, Mui Hoong (19 October 2003). "From the archives: Private side of DPM Lee". The Straits Times. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  25. Wong, Chun Han (14 July 2017). "Singapore, a Model of Orderly Rule, Is Jolted by a Bitter Family Feud". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  26. Stolarchuk, Jewel (4 October 2020). "Rare interview: Li Shengwu felt like the first grandson to Mr and Mrs Lee". The Independent Singapore. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
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