To foster academic exchange and enhance the scholarly environment, the School of Economics and Management at Southeast University actively embraces the university’s “One College, One Specialty” initiative for the academic year. In response, the school has launched the “Frontiers in Economics and Management” brand academic event, which centers on the digital economy and management, with the goal of creating a platform for the academic development of young faculty through an “organized research” model.
The inaugural session of the “Frontiers in Economics and Management” event took place on June 24, 2024. For this occasion, the school invited Professor Ming Hu from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto to deliver a keynote lecture titled “Randomization in Product, Fulfillment, and Pricing as a Profit Lever”, which focused on the use of randomized strategies in digital platforms. This event was hosted by Professor Xue Weili, Vice Dean of the School of Economics and Management. More than ten young faculty members from the school attended and actively engaged with Professor Hu during the lecture.
In his lecture, Professor Hu began by addressing key challenges in digital retail platforms and providing a comprehensive analysis of how three product randomization strategies—blind boxes, random supplier allocation, and random promotions—can enhance both seller profitability and customer welfare. He carefully unpacked the managerial insights behind these strategies, highlighting the conditions necessary for their effective implementation in practice. Throughout his presentation, Professor Hu demonstrated his expertise as a distinguished scholar in management science, particularly in identifying significant research questions, exploring research depth, and presenting meaningful findings. His lecture left a profound impact on the faculty and students in attendance. During the Q&A session, both faculty and students actively posed questions and engaged in thoughtful discussions with Professor Hu. Several young faculty members and graduate students also shared their ongoing research projects, and Professor Hu attentively listened, offering valuable feedback and constructive suggestions on each question raised.
The “Frontiers in Economics and Management” event was hosted by the School of Economics and Management at Southeast University and organized by the Department of Logistics Management and Engineering, injecting new vitality into the academic atmosphere of the School of Economics and Management. Looking ahead, the school will continue to focus on cutting-edge, core, and emerging issues in scientific research, foster deeper discussions, and actively expand academic exchanges and collaborations with more experts and scholars to jointly promote the development of academic innovation.
Translated by: Zeng Zihan
Reviewed by: Gu Wei
