Research.
I study how social processes shape market outcomes. One stream of my research investigates how social relationships and networking influence career outcomes. A second stream examines the relationship between politics and tastes. Much of my research is focused on China, and reveals how the transition from a planned to a market economy is re-shaping its economy and society. I tackle these questions by developing unique datasets primarily through the use of survey methods.
Working papers
Obukhova, Elena and Adam M. Kleinbaum. Opportunity, Choice, and Gender Networking Deficit.
Obukhova, Elena and Brian Rubineau. Switching Sides: Market transition and job information sharing in China
Journal articles
Obukhova, Elena and Letian Zhang. 2017. Social Capital and Job Search in Urban China: The Strength-of-Strong-Ties Hypothesis Revisited. Chinese Sociological Review 49(4): 340-361.
Zhang, Jiayin, Ezra Zuckerman and Elena Obukhova. 2016. A Lack of Security or of Cultural Capital? Acculturative Conservatism in the Naming Choices of Early 20th-Century U.S. Jews. Social Forces 94(4): 1509-1538.
Obukhova, Elena, Ezra Zuckerman and Jiayin Zhang. 2014. When Politics Froze Fashion: The Effect of the Cultural Revolution on Naming in Beijing. American Journal of Sociology 120(2): 555-583.
Obukhova, Elena and George Lan. 2013. Do Job-Seekers Benefit from Contacts? A Direct Test with Contemporaneous Searches. Management Science 59(10): 2204-2216.
Obukhova, Elena. 2012. Motivation vs. Relevance: Using Strong Ties to Find a Job in China. Social Science Research 41(3): 470-480.
Google scholar profile here
Working papers
Obukhova, Elena and Adam M. Kleinbaum. Opportunity, Choice, and Gender Networking Deficit.
Obukhova, Elena and Brian Rubineau. Switching Sides: Market transition and job information sharing in China
Journal articles
Obukhova, Elena and Letian Zhang. 2017. Social Capital and Job Search in Urban China: The Strength-of-Strong-Ties Hypothesis Revisited. Chinese Sociological Review 49(4): 340-361.
Zhang, Jiayin, Ezra Zuckerman and Elena Obukhova. 2016. A Lack of Security or of Cultural Capital? Acculturative Conservatism in the Naming Choices of Early 20th-Century U.S. Jews. Social Forces 94(4): 1509-1538.
Obukhova, Elena, Ezra Zuckerman and Jiayin Zhang. 2014. When Politics Froze Fashion: The Effect of the Cultural Revolution on Naming in Beijing. American Journal of Sociology 120(2): 555-583.
Obukhova, Elena and George Lan. 2013. Do Job-Seekers Benefit from Contacts? A Direct Test with Contemporaneous Searches. Management Science 59(10): 2204-2216.
Obukhova, Elena. 2012. Motivation vs. Relevance: Using Strong Ties to Find a Job in China. Social Science Research 41(3): 470-480.
Google scholar profile here
