Dr. Hairuo Jin

I am a social anthropologist working at the intersection of economic life, finance, and digital technologies in contemporary China. My research examines how ordinary people engage with markets, numbers, and platforms under conditions of political uncertainty, economic precariousness, and state regulation. Combining long-term ethnographic fieldwork with digital methods, I explore themes of calculation, trust, speculation, and everyday governance, with a particular focus on financial inclusion projects, financial professionals, and platform-mediated economies.
I am currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at Bielefeld University on the ERC project FinancialLives, where I conduct research on financial practices, institutions, and risk among working households in China. My broader interests include economic sociology and anthropology, digital economies, political economy, and qualitative methodologies.

Education
PhD in Social Anthropology
University of Cambridge, Department of Social Anthropology, UK 2020-2025
Funded by the Cambridge Trust Grace & Thomas C. H. Chan International Scholarship
The Scattered Accounts: Trading Dynamics and Community Formation Among Retail Investors (Sanhus) in China's Stock Market (Supervisor: Prof James Laidlaw)
MSc in Social Anthropology (Distinction)
University of Edinburgh, School of Social and Political Science, UK 2018-2019
Dissertation: Situationing Romantic Love in Chinese Society: Reflections on Modernity and Globalisation
Bachelor of Management in Accounting
Peking University, Guanghua School of Management, China 2012-2016
Dissertation: The Effect of Fan Art on Consumers' Purchase Decisions

Selected Professional Experience:
Freelance Mandarin-English Conference Interpreter UK 2022-2015
I provided interpretation for academic, government, and business events. Facilitated cross-cultural communication and moderated discussions involving culturally specific concepts

Analyst (Capital Markets & Private Equity)
Beijing Shougang Fund Co Ltd, China 2016-2018
I worked on capital market transactions, acquisitions, and valuation projects within a state-owned enterprise group. Conducted industry research, due diligence, and interviews with management teams and entrepreneurs. Developed practical expertise in financial markets, corporate governance, and investment decision-making, informing later academic research.