Shiran Victoria Shen
@svshen.bsky.social
environmental politics professor @ WashU Poli Sci | author @ Cambridge UP - The Political Regulation Wave, Compliance with Public Policy | http://svshen.com
🚨 New Policy Brief 🚨
How can citizen voices shape #ClimatePolicy in non-democracies?
Drawing on lessons from #China ’s 2021 Henan flood, this @gldinstitute.bsky.social brief shows how citizen petitions can drive more efficient, cost-effective #ClimateAdaptation — even under #authoritarian rule.
How can citizen voices shape #ClimatePolicy in non-democracies?
Drawing on lessons from #China ’s 2021 Henan flood, this @gldinstitute.bsky.social brief shows how citizen petitions can drive more efficient, cost-effective #ClimateAdaptation — even under #authoritarian rule.
November 4, 2025 at 4:13 PM
🚨 New Policy Brief 🚨
How can citizen voices shape #ClimatePolicy in non-democracies?
Drawing on lessons from #China ’s 2021 Henan flood, this @gldinstitute.bsky.social brief shows how citizen petitions can drive more efficient, cost-effective #ClimateAdaptation — even under #authoritarian rule.
How can citizen voices shape #ClimatePolicy in non-democracies?
Drawing on lessons from #China ’s 2021 Henan flood, this @gldinstitute.bsky.social brief shows how citizen petitions can drive more efficient, cost-effective #ClimateAdaptation — even under #authoritarian rule.
🚨New Policy Brief🚨
A fresh answer to a classic governance challenge—the 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗹-𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺:
How principals can deploy 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 to reduce discretion, curb capture, and reshape agent incentives—with lasting effects.
Now live
@gldinstitute.bsky.social
A fresh answer to a classic governance challenge—the 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗹-𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺:
How principals can deploy 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 to reduce discretion, curb capture, and reshape agent incentives—with lasting effects.
Now live
@gldinstitute.bsky.social
October 8, 2025 at 2:52 PM
🚨New Policy Brief🚨
A fresh answer to a classic governance challenge—the 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗹-𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺:
How principals can deploy 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 to reduce discretion, curb capture, and reshape agent incentives—with lasting effects.
Now live
@gldinstitute.bsky.social
A fresh answer to a classic governance challenge—the 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗹-𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺:
How principals can deploy 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 to reduce discretion, curb capture, and reshape agent incentives—with lasting effects.
Now live
@gldinstitute.bsky.social
I'm delighted and honored to receive the 2025
@appam.bsky.social 🌍 World Citizen Prize in Environmental Performance 🌍
polisci.wustl.edu/news/shiran-...
recognizing a body of works on #pollution control, including:
1/5
@appam.bsky.social 🌍 World Citizen Prize in Environmental Performance 🌍
polisci.wustl.edu/news/shiran-...
recognizing a body of works on #pollution control, including:
1/5
September 25, 2025 at 6:16 PM
I'm delighted and honored to receive the 2025
@appam.bsky.social 🌍 World Citizen Prize in Environmental Performance 🌍
polisci.wustl.edu/news/shiran-...
recognizing a body of works on #pollution control, including:
1/5
@appam.bsky.social 🌍 World Citizen Prize in Environmental Performance 🌍
polisci.wustl.edu/news/shiran-...
recognizing a body of works on #pollution control, including:
1/5
Concern over the flood and disaster preparedness spilled over beyond Henan—prompting petitions in unaffected provinces that explicitly referenced the 2021 Henan flood.
9/10
9/10
September 2, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Concern over the flood and disaster preparedness spilled over beyond Henan—prompting petitions in unaffected provinces that explicitly referenced the 2021 Henan flood.
9/10
9/10
The 2021 Henan flood stands out for the scale of destruction—and its political aftermath.
Other major, but less devastating, floods did not trigger comparable surges in adaptation-related petitions on the LLMB.
8/10
Other major, but less devastating, floods did not trigger comparable surges in adaptation-related petitions on the LLMB.
8/10
September 2, 2025 at 9:34 PM
The 2021 Henan flood stands out for the scale of destruction—and its political aftermath.
Other major, but less devastating, floods did not trigger comparable surges in adaptation-related petitions on the LLMB.
8/10
Other major, but less devastating, floods did not trigger comparable surges in adaptation-related petitions on the LLMB.
8/10
Topic modeling shows that appeals focused on concrete, localized vulnerabilities—demands that weren’t framed as “climate” issues but were functionally aligned with adaptation.
7/10
7/10
September 2, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Topic modeling shows that appeals focused on concrete, localized vulnerabilities—demands that weren’t framed as “climate” issues but were functionally aligned with adaptation.
7/10
7/10
Using a dynamic DiD model, I find a sustained rise in adaptation-related requests in Henan.
These estimates are likely conservative, given:
1️⃣ Spillover effects in other provinces
2️⃣ Concurrent but less severe flooding elsewhere
6/10
These estimates are likely conservative, given:
1️⃣ Spillover effects in other provinces
2️⃣ Concurrent but less severe flooding elsewhere
6/10
September 2, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Using a dynamic DiD model, I find a sustained rise in adaptation-related requests in Henan.
These estimates are likely conservative, given:
1️⃣ Spillover effects in other provinces
2️⃣ Concurrent but less severe flooding elsewhere
6/10
These estimates are likely conservative, given:
1️⃣ Spillover effects in other provinces
2️⃣ Concurrent but less severe flooding elsewhere
6/10
The flood triggered a sharp rise in climate adaptation petitions across Henan—a surge that persisted for months.
5/10
5/10
September 2, 2025 at 9:34 PM
The flood triggered a sharp rise in climate adaptation petitions across Henan—a surge that persisted for months.
5/10
5/10
🚨New Article🚨
What happens after a major climate disaster in developing and authoritarian contexts?
My new study @commsearth.nature.com examines how citizens made adaptation demands to local governments in 🇨🇳 after the 2021 Henan flood.
doi.org/10.1038/s432...
🧵 1/10
What happens after a major climate disaster in developing and authoritarian contexts?
My new study @commsearth.nature.com examines how citizens made adaptation demands to local governments in 🇨🇳 after the 2021 Henan flood.
doi.org/10.1038/s432...
🧵 1/10
September 2, 2025 at 9:34 PM
🚨New Article🚨
What happens after a major climate disaster in developing and authoritarian contexts?
My new study @commsearth.nature.com examines how citizens made adaptation demands to local governments in 🇨🇳 after the 2021 Henan flood.
doi.org/10.1038/s432...
🧵 1/10
What happens after a major climate disaster in developing and authoritarian contexts?
My new study @commsearth.nature.com examines how citizens made adaptation demands to local governments in 🇨🇳 after the 2021 Henan flood.
doi.org/10.1038/s432...
🧵 1/10
Notably, the effect was indistinguishable from zero in 2018—a year with no active central campaigning, suggesting a sustained impact of regularized campaigns.
7/
7/
July 10, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Notably, the effect was indistinguishable from zero in 2018—a year with no active central campaigning, suggesting a sustained impact of regularized campaigns.
7/
7/
Using confidential government data, we find that firms with greater economic significance were more likely to violate standards prior to the CEI.
After the CEI, this compliance gap narrowed and became statistically insignificant.
6/
After the CEI, this compliance gap narrowed and became statistically insignificant.
6/
July 10, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Using confidential government data, we find that firms with greater economic significance were more likely to violate standards prior to the CEI.
After the CEI, this compliance gap narrowed and became statistically insignificant.
6/
After the CEI, this compliance gap narrowed and became statistically insignificant.
6/
retain discretion over enforcement, and enforcement data is often reported by agents themselves, creating opportunities for manipulation.
This creates a classic principal-agent problem.
4/
This creates a classic principal-agent problem.
4/
July 10, 2025 at 8:53 PM
retain discretion over enforcement, and enforcement data is often reported by agents themselves, creating opportunities for manipulation.
This creates a classic principal-agent problem.
4/
This creates a classic principal-agent problem.
4/
Let’s unpack this institutional innovation in a 🧵:
Traditionally, governance tools emphasize either institutions or ad hoc campaigns.
While institutions offer continuity, campaigns are mobilized for crisis or reform but are often unsustainable.
Regularized campaigns combine features of both:
2/
Traditionally, governance tools emphasize either institutions or ad hoc campaigns.
While institutions offer continuity, campaigns are mobilized for crisis or reform but are often unsustainable.
Regularized campaigns combine features of both:
2/
July 10, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Let’s unpack this institutional innovation in a 🧵:
Traditionally, governance tools emphasize either institutions or ad hoc campaigns.
While institutions offer continuity, campaigns are mobilized for crisis or reform but are often unsustainable.
Regularized campaigns combine features of both:
2/
Traditionally, governance tools emphasize either institutions or ad hoc campaigns.
While institutions offer continuity, campaigns are mobilized for crisis or reform but are often unsustainable.
Regularized campaigns combine features of both:
2/
🚨New Paper🚨
How can governments sustain compliance improvements when institutions falter and ad hoc enforcement fades?
Our paper offers a fresh answer to this governance puzzle.
I'm so glad it overcame rounds of blocking and found a great home @psjeditor.bsky.social!
doi.org/10.1111/psj....
1/
How can governments sustain compliance improvements when institutions falter and ad hoc enforcement fades?
Our paper offers a fresh answer to this governance puzzle.
I'm so glad it overcame rounds of blocking and found a great home @psjeditor.bsky.social!
doi.org/10.1111/psj....
1/
July 10, 2025 at 8:53 PM
🚨New Paper🚨
How can governments sustain compliance improvements when institutions falter and ad hoc enforcement fades?
Our paper offers a fresh answer to this governance puzzle.
I'm so glad it overcame rounds of blocking and found a great home @psjeditor.bsky.social!
doi.org/10.1111/psj....
1/
How can governments sustain compliance improvements when institutions falter and ad hoc enforcement fades?
Our paper offers a fresh answer to this governance puzzle.
I'm so glad it overcame rounds of blocking and found a great home @psjeditor.bsky.social!
doi.org/10.1111/psj....
1/
Interesting paper that resonated: top universities often favor disciplinary PhDs in hiring, prioritizing alignment with existing faculty over interdisciplinarity.
Yet as global challenges grow more complex, interdisciplinary research is more essential than ever.
1/
Yet as global challenges grow more complex, interdisciplinary research is more essential than ever.
1/
May 29, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Interesting paper that resonated: top universities often favor disciplinary PhDs in hiring, prioritizing alignment with existing faculty over interdisciplinarity.
Yet as global challenges grow more complex, interdisciplinary research is more essential than ever.
1/
Yet as global challenges grow more complex, interdisciplinary research is more essential than ever.
1/
This paper introduces a replicable case-comparative procedure that accounts for concurrent trials. 4/
April 16, 2025 at 10:01 PM
This paper introduces a replicable case-comparative procedure that accounts for concurrent trials. 4/
That needs to change—here's why. 3/
April 16, 2025 at 10:01 PM
That needs to change—here's why. 3/
🚨New Paper🚨
How do politics shape the outcomes of policy experiments?
This study compares Chinese cities with similar goals and conditions, participating in the same experiments, but achieving different decarbonization results.
Live @psjeditor.bsky.social: doi.org/10.1111/psj....
Highlights: 1/
How do politics shape the outcomes of policy experiments?
This study compares Chinese cities with similar goals and conditions, participating in the same experiments, but achieving different decarbonization results.
Live @psjeditor.bsky.social: doi.org/10.1111/psj....
Highlights: 1/
April 16, 2025 at 10:01 PM
🚨New Paper🚨
How do politics shape the outcomes of policy experiments?
This study compares Chinese cities with similar goals and conditions, participating in the same experiments, but achieving different decarbonization results.
Live @psjeditor.bsky.social: doi.org/10.1111/psj....
Highlights: 1/
How do politics shape the outcomes of policy experiments?
This study compares Chinese cities with similar goals and conditions, participating in the same experiments, but achieving different decarbonization results.
Live @psjeditor.bsky.social: doi.org/10.1111/psj....
Highlights: 1/
The study highlights that these social competitions galvanized community leadership and fostered a sense of pride and coordination among residents. The reward for winning is a certificate. This presents a low-cost approach to mitigating air pollution. #CollectiveAction (5/7)
May 31, 2024 at 12:59 AM
The study highlights that these social competitions galvanized community leadership and fostered a sense of pride and coordination among residents. The reward for winning is a certificate. This presents a low-cost approach to mitigating air pollution. #CollectiveAction (5/7)
Neighborhoods involved in the competition showed a 24% reduction in waste burning compared to control neighborhoods, with no evidence of a rebound effect 10 months after the final audit during the experimental period. #BehaviorChange (4/7)
May 31, 2024 at 12:59 AM
Neighborhoods involved in the competition showed a 24% reduction in waste burning compared to control neighborhoods, with no evidence of a rebound effect 10 months after the final audit during the experimental period. #BehaviorChange (4/7)
🌍 Excited to share our latest research published in the PNAS 🌍
Our study investigates how social competition can effectively reduce informal waste burning in Nansana municipality, #Uganda. #AirQuality #SustainabilityScience #EnvironmentalPolicy
A 🧵: (1/7)
Our study investigates how social competition can effectively reduce informal waste burning in Nansana municipality, #Uganda. #AirQuality #SustainabilityScience #EnvironmentalPolicy
A 🧵: (1/7)
May 31, 2024 at 12:59 AM
🌍 Excited to share our latest research published in the PNAS 🌍
Our study investigates how social competition can effectively reduce informal waste burning in Nansana municipality, #Uganda. #AirQuality #SustainabilityScience #EnvironmentalPolicy
A 🧵: (1/7)
Our study investigates how social competition can effectively reduce informal waste burning in Nansana municipality, #Uganda. #AirQuality #SustainabilityScience #EnvironmentalPolicy
A 🧵: (1/7)