Faculty — Runsheng Yin

Associate Professor of Forest Economics and Policy

PhD, Forest Economics and Finance, 1994,
University of Georgia;
MS, Forest Management, 1986, Beijing Forestry University;
BS, Forestry, 1982, Shanxi Agricultural University

Contact Information

126 Natural Resources
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: (517) 432-3352
Fax: (517) 432-1143
Email: yinr@msu.edu

Preparing Resource and Environmental Managers with International Understandings and Merits

Ecosystem Policy Institute of China

Research Interests

International Forestry

• Ecosystem policy and service valuation
• Sustainable resource management strategies
• The impact of economic reforms on forest growth
• Human dimension of land-use and land-cover change
• Agroforestry and plantation forest regimes
• Forest taxes and subsidies in developing countries

Forest Business Management

• Timberland ownership and forest investment
• Efficiency and productivity measurement
• Timber supply and forest products market dynamics
• Decision making under uncertainty and irreversibility
• Public policy change and private forest management

Research Philosophy

1. Bring sound economics to bear on forest problems;
2. Emphasize critical thinking and holistic view;
3. Combine theoretical advances with empirical analyses;
4. Anticipate coming issues and adopt appropriate techniques to address them;
5. Have strong business and policy orientation.

Professional Experience

• 2006.10 - present Director of the Ecosystem Policy Institute of China, a joint research program sponsored by Michigan State University and the Chinese State Forestry Administration
• 2006.7 - present Associate Professor of Forest Resource Economics and Policy
  Department of Forestry, Michigan State University
• 2000.4 0 2006.6- Assistant Professor of Forest Resource Economics
  Department of Forestry, Michigan State University
• 1998.8 - 2000.3 Assistant Research Scientist of Forest Economics and Finance
  School of Forest Resources, The University of Georgia
• 1994.8 - 1998.7 Research Associate of Forest Economics
  School of Forest Resources, The University of Georgia
• 1986.8 -1989.7 Research Fellow of Forest Policy
  Institute of Forest Economics, Chinese Academy of Forestry
• 1982.2 - 1984.8 Teaching Assistant of Forest Economics and Management
  Department of Forestry, Shanxi Agricultural University

Courses Taught

• FOR 866 – Economics of Renewable Resources
• FOR 450 – Forestry in International Development
• FOR 466 – Natural Resource Policy
• FOR 202 – Introduction to Forestry

Research Funding

• An Integrative Impact Evaluation of China's Ecological Restoration Programs, $650,000 awarded by the National Science Foundation, 9/1/2006-8/30/2009 (with Jiaguo Qi and David Rothstein).
• China's Forest Sector: Market Projection and Policy Analysis, $55,000 awarded by the USDA Forest Service, 9/01/2006-8/30/2008.
• The Driving Forces and Environmental Consequences of Land-Use and Land-Cover Change in China's Upper Yangtze Basin, $299,820 awarded by the National Science Foundation, 9/1/2005-2/28/2008 (with Jiaguo Qi and David Rothstein).
• Land Use and Land Cover Changes in China's Upper Yangtze Basin: A Pilot Study, $12,386 awarded by MSU Center for Advanced Study of Int'l Development and Asian Studies Center, 05/01/2005-07/30/06.
• Market Projection and Policy Assessment for China's Forest Sector, 140,000 Yuan (~$17,000) awarded by the China Natural Science Foundation and $95,000 awarded by the Ford Foundation, 10/1/2004 -9/30/2006, (with Zhou Li, Rural Development Institute, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences).
• REU Site: Preparing Resource and Environmental Managers with International Understanding and Merits (PREMIUM)-funded by National Science Foundation 2004-2007.
• Developing an Economic Analysis Tool for Practitioners in Developing Countries -awarded by Forest Service Office of International program in November 2003.
• Market Impacts and Policy Implications of U.S. Trade Restrictions on Imported
  Lumber-awarded by the McIntire-Stennis Forest Research Program in 2002 and Michigan Agricultural Experimental Station in 2003.
• Developing a Timber Market Model for China—awarded by the Michigan State University Foundation in 2001
• The Impact of Fiber Farming on Logging Productivity and Costs—awarded by the University of Georgia Research Foundation in 2000.
• The Impact of Institutional Timberland Ownership on Regional Wood Supply—awarded by the Southeast Experimental Station, USDA Forest Service in 1999.
• Evaluating the Productivity and Profitability of Fiber Farming—awarded by the Southern Forest Resource Consortium in 1998 (with David Newman).
• An Assessment of Production Efficiencies and Competitive Advantages of U.S. Pulp and Paper Manufacturers—awarded by the Southeast Experimental Station USDA Forest Service in 1998 (with David Newman).
• An Inquiry into the Efficiency of Timberland Investment Opportunities in the Southern United States—awarded by by the Southeast Experimental Station, USDA Forest Service in 1997 (with David Newman).
• Evaluation of Timberland Investment Opportunities in the Southern U.S.—awarded by the Southeast Experimental Station, USDA Forest Service in 1996 (with David Newman, Jon Caulfield, Tom Harris, and Chris Zinkhan).
• An Analysis of Long-Run Timber Supply—awarded by the Southeast Experimental Station, USDA Forest Service in 1995 (with David Newman).

Consultant Work

• Forest Trends-Modeling China's Forest Products Markets and Impacts of Policy
  Changes (2003-04).
• Environment and Economy Program for Southeast Asia-Resource Economics Training
  in Beijing (2003).
• Center for Township Development and Reform, Chinese State Council-Ecotourism
  Management in the Mt. Changbai Area (2002).
• Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia-Watershed Management and
  Water Supply in Beijing (2001)
• USAID— Resource Utilization and Production Efficiency in the Indonesia Forest Sector (1999);
• Environment and Economy Program for Southeast Asia-Forestry and the Environment in China (1997)
• Ford Foundation/Beijing—Micro Finance and Poverty Alleviation (1997);
• Stanford University—Land Tenure and Forest Management in China (1996);
• Jacobs-Sirrine Consultants—The Cost Structure of the Pulp & Paper Industry (1996);
• Resource Information Systems, Inc.—China's Forestry and Pulp & Paper Industry (1995).

Publications

Peer-reviewed articles

Shen, Yueqin, Xianchun Liao and Runsheng Yin. Measuring the Socioeconomic Impacts of China's Natural Forest Protection Program. Environment and Development Economics 11(6): 769-788.

Xu, Jintao, Runsheng Yin, Zhou Li, and Can Liu. China's Ecological Rehabilitation: Progress and Challenges. Ecological Economics 57(4): 595-607.

Yin, Runsheng. Preparing Resource and Environmental Managers with International Understanding and Merits - Introducing a Research Experience for Undergraduates project funded by the National Science Foundation. Journal of Forestry 104(6): 320-323.

Yin, Runsheng. 2006. An Editorial Introduction to the Special Issue on U.S.-Canada Forest Products. Forest Science 52(4): 335-339.

Baek, Jungho and Runsheng Yin. The Market and Welfare Impacts of U.S. Restrictions on Softwood Lumber Imported from Canada. Forest Science 52(4): 390-400.

Xiang, Qing and Runsheng Yin. Impact of Globalization and Policy Change on U.S. Softwood Lumber Trade. Forest Science 52(4): 381-389.

Yin, Runsheng, Jintao Xu, Zhou Li, and Can Liu. 2005. China's Ecological Rehabilitation: Unprecedented Efforts, Dramatic Impacts, and Requisite Policies. China Environment Series 6: 17-32.

Yin, Runsheng and Jungho Baek. 2004. Is There a Single National Lumber Market in the U.S.? Forest Science 51(2): 155-164.

Liu, Can and Runsheng Yin. 2004. Poverty Dynamics Revealed in the Production Performance and Forestry in Improving Livilihoods: the Case of West Anhui, China. Forest Policy and Economics 6: 391-401.

Yin, Runsheng and Jungho Baek. 2003. U.S.-Canada Softwood Lumber Trade Dispute:What We Know and What We Need to Know? Forest Policy and Economics 6: 129-143.

Gong, Peichen and Runsheng Yin. 2003. Slash Pine Management with Stochastic Prices Forest Science 50(1): 10-19.

Yin, Runsheng, Jintao Xu, and Zhou Li. 2003. Building Institutions for Markets: Experience and Lessons from China's Rural Forest Sector. Environment, Development, and Sustainability 5: 333-351.

Yin, Runsheng and Jintao Xu. 2002. A Welfare Evaluation of China Rural Forestry Reform. World Development 30(10): 1755-1767.

Yin, Runsheng. and Jintao Xu. 2002. Identifying Market Relationships with Cointegration and Causality Tests. Forest Policy and Economics 5: 305-315.

Yin, Runsheng, D.H. Newman, and J. Siry. 2002. Test for Market Integration in Southern Timber Regions. Journal of Forest Economics 8 (2): 151-166.

Yin, Runsheng and Jon Caulfield. 2002 A Profile of Timber Markets in the U.S. Southeast. Forest Products Journal 52(3): 25-34.

Yin, Runsheng. 2001. Spotted Owl Protection, Booming Housing Market, and the Timber Price Movements in the Pacific Northwest. Natural Resource Modeling 14(4): 575-592.

Yin, Runsheng. 2001. Combining Forest-Level Analysis with Options Valuation approach: a New Perspective for Forestry Investment Assessment. Forest Science 47(4); 475-483.

Yin, Runsheng and R.A. Sedjo. 2001. Comparing the Performance of Loblolly Management Regimes. Journal of Forestry 99(12); 10-17

Yin, Runsheng and Jon Caulfield. 2001. A Profile of Timber Markets in the U.S. Southeast. Forest Products Journal (forthcoming)

Yin, Runsheng and R.L. Izlar. 2001. Supply Contract and Portfolio Insurance: Applications of Financial Engineering to Institutional Timberland Investment. Journal of Forestry 99(5): 39-44

Yin, Runsheng. 2000. Spotted Owl Protection, Booming Housing Market, and the Timber Price Movements in the Pacific Northwest. Natural Resource Modeling (forthcoming)

Yin, Runsheng and W.F. Hyde. 2000. Trees as an Agriculture Sustaining Activity: the Case of Northern China. Agroforestry Systems 50: 179-494.

Yin, Runsheng. Alternative Measurements of Production Efficiency in the Global Pulp Sector. Forest Science 46(4): 558-569.

Yin, Runsheng and W.F. Hyde. Trees as An Agriculture Sustaining Activity: the Case of Northern China. Agroforestry Systems (forthcoming).

Yin, Runsheng. T. G. Harris, and R.L. Izlar. 2000. Why Forest Products Companies Need to Hold Timberland? Forest Products Journal 50(9): 39-44.

Yin, Runsheng and D.H. Newman. 1999. A Timber Producer's Entry, Exit, and Other Decisions under Market Uncertainty. Journal of Forest Economics 5(2): 305-320.

Yin, Runsheng. 1999. Production Efficiency and Market Competitiveness of Pulp Producers in the Pacific Rim. Forest Products Journal 49(7/8): 43-49.

Yin, Runsheng and D.H. Newman. 1999. An Intervention Analysis of Hurricane Hugo's Price Effect in South Carolina. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 29(6): 779-786.

Yin, Runsheng. 1999. Forecasting Stumpage Prices Using Univariate ARIMA Models. Southern Journal of Applied Forestry 23(1): 53-58.

Yin, Runsheng. 1998. Forestry and the Environment in China: the Current Situation and Strategic Choice. World Development 26(12): 2153-2167.

Yin, Runsheng, L.V. Pienaar, and M.E. Aronow. 1998. The Productivity and Profitability of Fiber Farming. Journal of Forestry (November).

Yin, Runsheng, J.P. Caulfield, M.E. Aronow, and T.G. Harris. 1998. Industrial Timberland: Current Situation, Holding Rationale, and Future Development. Forest Products Journal 48(10): 43-48.

Yin, Runsheng. 1998. Industrial Characteristics and Investment Decisions: an Alternative Approach to Pulp and Paper Production. TAPPI Journal 81(1): 69-74.

Yin, Runsheng. 1998. DEA: A New Methodology for Evaluating the Performance of Forest Products Producers. Forest Products Journal 48(1): 29-34.

Yin, Runsheng. 1997. An Alternative to Forest Investment Assessment. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 27(12): 2072-2078.

Yin, Runsheng and D.H. Newman. 1997. When to Cut a Stand of Trees? Natural Resource Modeling 10(3):251-261.

Yin, Runsheng and D.H. Newman. 1997. The Impact of Rural Reform on China's Forestry Development. Environment and Development Economics 2(3):289-303.

Yin, Runsheng and Qun He. 1997. The Spatial and Temporal Effects of Paulownia Intercropping in Northern China. Agroforestry Systems 37:91-109.

Yin, Runsheng and D.H. Newman. 1997. Long Run Timber Supply and the Economics of Timber Production. Forest Science 43:113-120.

Yin, Runsheng and D.H. Newman. 1996. The Effect of Catastrophic Risk on Forest Investment. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management 36:186-197.

Yin, Runsheng and D.H. Newman. 1996. Are Stumpage Markets Informationally Efficient? Canadian Journal of Forest Research 26:1032-1039.

Yin, Runsheng and D.H. Newman. 1995. Optimal Rotations with Evolving Prices and Costs Revisited. Forest Science 41:477-490.

Yin, Runsheng and D.H. Newman. 1995. A Note on the Tree-Cutting Problem in a Stochastic Environment. Journal of Forest Economics 1:197-206.

Yin, Runsheng. 1994. China's Rural Forestry Since 1949. Journal of World Forest Resource Management 7:73-100.

Book Chapters:

Yin, Runsheng. 2004. Agroforestry in Northern China: Recent Experience and Empirical Impact. In Alavalapati et al. (ed): Valuing Agroforestry Systems. Boston, MA: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Yin, Runsheng. 2003. Central Characteristics of Reform: Measures of the Effects of Improved Property Rights, a Stable Policy Environment, and Environmental Protection. In Hyde et al. (ed): China's Forests: Global Lessons from Market Reforms. Washington, Dc: Resources for the Future

Hyde, W.F., Jintao Xu, B. Belcher, Runsheng Yin, and Jinlong Liu. 2003. Conclusions and Policy Implications. In Hyde et al. (ed): China's Forests: Global Lessons from Market Reforms. Washington, Dc: Resources for the Future.

Pannell, C.W. and Runsheng Yin. 2003. Diminishing Cropland and Agricultural Outlook. In Hsieh and Lu (ed): Changing China: A Geographical Appraisal. Westview Press.

Yin, Runsheng, D.H. Newman, and W.F. Hyde. 2000. Rural Reform and China's Forestry Sector: Rational Farmer Expectations and the Case for a Stable Policy Environment. In Hyde et al. (ed): Economics of Forestry and Rural Development. University of Michigan Press.

Yin, Runsheng and W.F. Hyde. 2000. Trees as a Source of Agricultural Sustainability: Agroforestry in China. In Hyde et al. (ed): Economics of Forestry and Rural Development. University of Michigan Press.

Yin, Runsheng. Forestry and the Environment in China. In English and Runnalls 1997 (ed): Environment and Development in the Pacific: Problems and Policy Options. Addison-Wesley Longman Australia Pty Limited.

Member

• External Professional Organizations:
  • American Association for the Advancement of Science
  • American Economic Association
  • Society of American Foresters
  • Forest Products Society
  • Southern Forest Economics Workshop
  • Midwest Forest Economics Workshop
• Internal Service Organization
  • Center for Advanced Study of International Development
  • Asian Study Center, International Studies and Programs
  • Specialization of Resource Economics, Graduate School
  • Undergraduate Committee, Department of Forestry

Professional Services

• Panelist - National Science Foundation Partnerships for International Research and Education Program (2006)
• Associate Editor - Forest Science (from 2004)
• Guest Editor - Forest Science special issue on US-Canada Forest Products Trade (2006)
• Program Co-chair - Symposium of US-Canada Forest Products Trade held at MSU (March 2005)
• Guest Associate Editor: Forest Science (2000 – 2002)
• Chair of International Trade Session - Society of American Foresters 2003 Convention in Buffalo, New York
• Peer Review:
  • Forest Science, American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Canadian Journal of Forest Research, World Development, Environment and Development Economics, Ecological Economics, Forest Policy & Economics, Journal of Forestry, China Science Bulletin, Journal of Forest Economics, Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Agroforestry Systems
• Organizer - Midwest Forest Economists Workshop (Grand Rapids, Aug. 12-14, 2001)
• Appointment - Visiting Research Scientist, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (from 2002)
• Panel Discussant - Market-Based Approaches to Environmental Services, organized by Forest Trends (Hungshan, May 11-12, 2001)