The Department of Economics and the Empirical Research Paper Committee is thrilled to award Wei Xuan with the Outstanding 2Y Paper Award in recognition of his talent, fortitude, and potential. Wei’s paper uses the establishment of water-polluting industrial firms in China to estimate the impact of water pollution on agricultural total factor productivity (TFP). His paper approaches this topic with a wealth of data, a well-rounded understanding of the topic, and attention to detail. Wei will receive $5000 in funding for Summer 2025 to continue supporting his research and contributions.