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Li Shengwu

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Li Shengwu (born 4 February 1985)[1] is the eldest son of Lee Hsien Yang and Lee Suet Fern. He is an academic by profession and is trained as an economist.[2] As of August 2020, he is based in the United States of America and is listed as an Assistant Professor of Economics at Harvard University.[3]

Li Shengwu
Li Shengwu 2020.jpg
Born4 February 1985
EducationBachelor of Arts (PPE)

Master of Philosophy (Economics)

Doctor of Philosophy (Economics)
Alma materOxford University, Stanford University

Background

Before joining Harvard University's economics faculty as a staff member, Li Shengwu was a Junior Fellow in the Harvard Society of Fellows from 2016 to 2018.[4] He was a competitive debater during his pre-university and undergraduate years,[5][6] having won the European Universities Debating Championship in 2009 and also receiving the "Best Speaker" award at the World Universities Debating Championship in 2010.[7][8] While in university, he also coached the varsity debate teams.[9]

 
Li Shengwu (second from left) pictured with his late grandfather, Lee Kuan Yew. Photo from Asia One.

Family

Li Shengwu is the older brother of Li Huanwu and Li Shaowu. He is the nephew of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Dr Lee Wei Ling, and the grandson of the late Lee Kuan Yew. He is also the cousin of Li Hongyi.

Education

Li Shengwu was a student at Raffles Junior College.[10][11] As a second-year JC student, he was a part of the team that represented Singapore in the World Schools Debating Championships in Peru.[12] Upon completing his GCE A-Level examinations, he was awarded the Angus Ross Prize by Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) for being the top A-level literature student in Singapore.[13] He then furthered his studies at the Balliol College in Oxford University where he graduated with a degree in philosophy, politics and economics (PPE).[14][15] During his time in Oxford as an undergraduate, he held two scholarships - the Overseas Research Scholarship and the Clarendon Scholarship awarded by Oxford University.[16] In 2009, he graduated at the top of his class[17] and won the Hicks and Webb Prize - an award presented to outstanding economics students.[18]

Post-graduate studies

Li Shengwu holds a masters degree in economics from Oxford University and a doctorate in economics from Stanford University which he received in 2016.[19][20] In 2011, he won the George Webb Medley Prize for his outstanding graduate thesis.[21]

Career

Li Shengwu is an Assistant Professor of Economics at Harvard University, specialising in Behavioural Economics and Theory.[22] Prior to this role, he was a Junior Fellow of the Harvard Society of Fellows.[22]

Awards & fellowships[23]

Year Award/fellowship Institution
2022 Sloan Research Fellowship Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
2018 Exeter Prize University of Exeter Business School
Best Paper, Economics and Computation ACM Special Interest Group on e-Commerce
2017 Aliprantis Prize Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory
2016 Review of Economic Studies Tour The Review of Economic Studies
2014 Graduate Fellowship Stanford Center for Ethics and Society
2013 Best Second-Year Paper Prize Stanford University, Economics Department
2011-2012 Graduate Fellowship Stanford University, Economics Department
2011 George Webb Medley Prize University of Oxford
2009-2011 Clarendon Scholarship University of Oxford
Overseas Research Scholarship University of Oxford
2009 Hicks and Webb Prize University of Oxford

Media coverage

In February 2023, Li Shengwu was among 125 early-career researchers who were awarded the Sloan Research Fellowship for the year.[22][24] This meant that he would receive a monetary prize of US$75,000 for his research.

The Sloan Research Fellowship is held in high regard, and considered one of the most prestigious awards available to young researchers.[22] Many of its past recipients have gone on to make significant contributions to the fields of, but not limited to, Science, Math, and Economics.[22]

This announcement was well-received by media outlets like CNA and Mothership. This milestone was also mentioned by Shengwu’s father, Li Hsien Yang via a Facebook post on 16 February 2023.[22] The Singaporean businessman stated that he was “thrilled that Shengwu continues to bring honour to Singapore”.[24]

Court case

Facebook post & prosecution (2017)

As the son of Li Hsien Yang, Li Shengwu was also embroiled in the Lee family dispute over the family home at 38 Oxley Road. On 15 July 2017, he shared a Wall Street Journal newspaper article summarising the dispute with a caption that partially read:

"... (the) Singapore government is very litigious and has a pliant court system.."[25]

A few days after the post, he was instructed by the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) to apologise for his comments and remove his post.[26] However, he did not comply with these requests and maintained that his claims were not contemptuous when read in context.[27] On 4 August 2017, the AGC began proceedings against Li Shengwu for contempt of court.[28]

Sentencing (2020)

On 29 July 2020, the High Court of Singapore found Li Shengwu guilty of contempt of court and he was sentenced to a $15,000 fine.[29] He agreed to pay the fine despite disagreeing with the ruling.[30][31]

References/ Citations

  1. ↑ "A son for Hsien Yang". The Straits Times. February 13, 1985. Accessed on 11 August 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  2. ↑ "Shengwu Li CV". Shengwu.li. Accessed on 11 August 2020.
  3. ↑ "Department of Economics: Shengwu Li". Harvard University. Accessed on 11 August 2020.
  4. ↑ "Shengwu Li CV". Shengwu.li. Accessed on 11 August 2020.
  5. ↑ Yeo, Melissa. "12 Li Shengwu Facts You Never Knew About Lee Kuan Yew’s Grandson". MustShare News. April 14, 2015. Accessed on 11 August 2020.
  6. ↑ Kan, Lynn. "Three S'poreans come out tops at Oxford". The Straits Times. January 9, 2010. Accessed on 11 August 2020. Retrieved from AsiaOne.
  7. ↑ "Shengwu Li CV". Shengwu.li. Accessed on 11 August 2020.
  8. ↑ Chang, Rachel. "S'porean is top debater in global contest". The Straits Times. January 9, 2010. Accessed on 11 August 2020.
  9. ↑ "Shengwu Li CV". Shengwu.li. Accessed on 11 August 2020.
  10. ↑ Yeo, Melissa. "12 Li Shengwu Facts You Never Knew About Lee Kuan Yew’s Grandson". MustShare News. April 14, 2015. Accessed on 11 August 2020.
  11. ↑ "SQA Executive Summary: RAFFLESIANS IN THE NEWS". Enterprise SG. 2011. Accessed on 11 August 2020.
  12. ↑ Ngiau, David. "Top debaters off to Peru". TODAY. July 30, 2003. Accessed on 11 August 2020.
  13. ↑ Yang, Calvin. "Angus Ross Prize: Cambridge axes top literature prize for A-level students". The Straits Times. February 6, 2017. Accessed on 11 August 2020.
  14. ↑ "Shengwu Li". LinkedIn. Accessed on 11 August 2020.
  15. ↑ Kan, Lynn. "Three S'poreans come out tops at Oxford". The Straits Times. January 9, 2010. Accessed on 11 August 2020. Retrieved from AsiaOne.
  16. ↑ "Shengwu Li CV". Shengwu.li. Accessed on 11 August 2020.
  17. ↑ Kan, Lynn. "Three S'poreans come out tops at Oxford". The Straits Times. January 9, 2010. Accessed on 11 August 2020. Retrieved from AsiaOne.
  18. ↑ "University of Oxford - Hicks and Webb Medley Prizes (PPE and HE)". European Funding Guide. Accessed on 11 August 2020.
  19. ↑ "Shengwu Li CV". Shengwu.li. Accessed on 11 August 2020.
  20. ↑ Yeo, Melissa. "12 Li Shengwu Facts You Never Knew About Lee Kuan Yew’s Grandson". MustShare News. April 14, 2015. Accessed on 11 August 2020.
  21. ↑ "University of Oxford - George Webb Medley Graduate Prize". European Funding Guide. Accessed on 11 August 2020.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 Goh, Charlene. “Singaporean economist Li Shengwu among 125 'outstanding' researchers in US, Canada selected for prestigious Sloan fellowship”. CNA. February 16, 2023. Accessed 27 February 2023.
  23. ↑ Li, Shengwu. “Shengwu_Li_CV”. Shengwu Li. n.d. Accessed 27 February 2023.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Hian, Kerr Puay. “S'porean economist Li Shengwu awarded prestigious Sloan Research Fellowship for 2023”. Mothership.sg. February 16, 2023. Accessed 27 February 2023.
  25. ↑ Tham, Yuen-C. "Li Shengwu says he left Singapore because he feared he might be detained". The Straits Times. August 18, 2017. Accessed on 11 August 2020.
  26. ↑ Lum, Selina. "Li Shengwu sentenced to $15,000 fine for contempt; one week's jail if he does not pay". The Straits Times. July 29, 2020. Accessed on 11 August 2020.
  27. ↑ Tham, Yuen-C. "Li Shengwu says he left Singapore because he feared he might be detained". The Straits Times. August 18, 2017. Accessed on 11 August 2020.
  28. ↑ McLaughlin, Tim. "Exclusive: Lee Kuan Yew's grandson left Singapore because friends feared he would be detained". Reuters. August 18, 2017. Accessed on 11 August 2020.
  29. ↑ Lum, Selina. "Li Shengwu sentenced to $15,000 fine for contempt; one week's jail if he does not pay". The Straits Times. July 29, 2020. Accessed on 11 August 2020.
  30. ↑ "‘I do not admit guilt’: Li Shengwu to pay $15,000 fine for ‘peace and quiet’". Yahoo! News. August 11, 2020. Accessed on 11 August 2020.
  31. ↑ Nabilah Awang. "Li Shengwu agrees to pay S$15,000 fine for contempt of court, but won't admit guilt". Today. August 11, 2020. Accessed on 11 August 2020.
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