Areas of Expertise

Global strategy, sustainability, climate change, innovation, emerging markets

Academic Degrees

• Ph.D. in Strategy and International Business, University of Miami, 2018
• M.S. in Strategic Management, Sun Yat-sen University, 2010
• B.A. in Management, South China University of Technology, 2008

Awards, Honors & Certificates

• Academy of Management International Management Division Emerging Scholar Award, 2025
• Kelley School of Business Early Career Research Impact Award, 2025
• Outstanding Junior Faculty Award at Indiana University, 2024
• Best Paper Award on Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability, Academy of Management Annual Meeting International Management Division, 2024
• Pre-Tenure Faculty Research Award, Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, 2024
• Journal of Management Studies Editors’ Reviewer Award, 2023
• Best Phenomena-Based Paper Award, “Innovations to Tackle Global Sustainability Challenges” Conference, 2023
• Kelley School of Business Research Award, Indiana University, 2022
• Women in the Academy of International Business Emerging Scholar Award, 2022
• FACET’s Mumford Excellence in Extraordinary Teaching Award, Indiana University, 2021
• GWU-CIBER Best Paper on Emerging Markets, Academy of Management 2019 Annual Meeting International Management Division
• Best Paper Award on Emerging Economies Research, Academy of International Business 2019 Annual Meeting
• Award of Academic Merit, University of Miami, 2018
• National Fellowship for Studying Abroad, Ministry of Education of China, 2009-2010
• National Fellowship for Excellent Graduate Students, Sun Yat-sen University, 2008-2010
• National Silver Award in the 5th China “Challenge Cup” New Ventures Plan Competition, 2006

Selected Publications

• Gu, X., Bu, J., and Li, K. J. (2026). Old but Gold? Product Design Innovation and the Value of Used Products in Secondhand Markets. Production and Operations Management, 35(2), 724–743.

  Abstract

  Abstract

  An important global trend today is the rise of the secondhand market powered by consumers’ desire for sustainability and affordability, as well as a surge in the use of digital resale platforms. While marketing research has primarily focused on the success of new product markets, scant research has tried to understand secondhand markets. To advance knowledge in this area, we investigate how product design innovation affects the value of used products in secondhand markets. Specifically, we develop a framework of the  intertemporal distinctiveness of a used product’s design, defined as the extent to which the design of a used product is distinct from the newest design of the same product. We use image-processing software to analyze product pictures and quantify the intertemporal distinctiveness of design. Analyzing a unique dataset of used cars sold in the U.S. automotive market, we find a U-shaped relationship between the intertemporal distinctiveness of design and the resale price of used products. Moreover, we find that the effect of intertemporal distinctiveness is moderated by the  within-category distinctiveness of a used product, defined as the extent to which a used product’s design is distinct from other used products in the same product category. This study contributes to the research on product design and the determinants of resale prices, providing practical implications for consumers, manufacturers, and dealers. 

• Bu, J., and Genin, A. (2026). Pollution havens vs. gates of hell: Environmental pollution and MNE investment. Strategic Management Journal, 47(4), 1009-1038.
• Tang, Y., Bu, J., Wang, D., and Shi, W. (2026). Global meets local: Community political ideology and Chinese cross-border M&As in the U.S. Journal of International Business Studies, in press.
• Tang, Y., Zhang, H., Bu, J., and Luo, Y. (2026). From springboard to strength: Cross-border acquisitions and home-country innovation advancement. Journal of Management Studies, in press.
• Bu, J., Wang, S. L, Lee, Y., and Li, D. (2025). Not in my homeland: Immigrant CEOs and the geography of corporate social irresponsibility. Strategic Management Journal, 46(7), 1606-1638.. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.3702
• Bu, J., Shi, W., and Yin, C. (2025). Type diversity of institutional investors and opportunistic acquisitions. Journal of Management, 51(5), 2109-2137. 
• Wajda, D., Bu, J., and Shi, W. (2025). Foreign institutional investors and equity decision of cross-border acquisitions. Global Strategy Journal, 15(1), 66-93.
• Genin, A., and Bu, J. (2025). Global ecological dependence and multinationals’ climate innovation: the role of climate risk exposure and institutional conditions.  Journal of International Business Studies, in press. 
• Tang, Y., Shen, Y., Bu, J., and Feng, D. (2025). Digital institutions and virtual involvement of born digital firms. Journal of International Business Studies, in press.
• Bu, J., Cuervo-Cazurra, A., Luo, Y., and Wang, S. L. (2024). Mitigating soft and hard infrastructure deficiencies in emerging markets. Journal of World Business, 59(4), 101540.
• Bu, J., Tang, Y., Luo, Y., and Li, C. (2023). Learning from inbound foreign acquisitions for outbound expansion by emerging market MNEs, Journal of International Business Studies, 54,  852–886.  
• Li, C., Luo, Y., Bu, J., and Tang, Y. (2023). The role of networks in international acquisition premiums. Journal of International Business Studies, 54, 1700–1711.
• Li, C., Ahn, J., Bu, J., and Meyer, K. E. (2023). The value of publishing in JIBS. Journal of International Business Studies, 54, 1688–1699.
• Bu, J., Zhao, E. Y., Li, K., and Li, J. (2022). Multilevel optimal distinctiveness: Examining the impact of within- and between-organization distinctiveness of product design on market performance. Strategic Management Journal, 43(9), 1793-1822.

  Abstract

  Abstract

  This research develops a multilevel framework to study optimal distinctiveness (OD) at two different levels. Specifically, we distinguish between within-organization distinctiveness and between-organization distinctiveness of product design and examine how they independently and interactively influence performance. Analyzing a unique data set of 2,203 model-year observations for automobiles sold in the U.S. market from 2001 to 2016, we found that while within-organization distinctiveness of product design hurts market performance, between-organization distinctiveness of product design increases market performance. Moreover, when between-organization distinctiveness of product design is high, the negative impact of within-organization distinctiveness of product design on performance is weakened. These findings contribute to OD research by improving the understanding of OD as a multilevel construct and elaborating on its contextual contingency.

• Bu, J., Luo, Y., and Zhang, H. (2022). The dark side of informal institutions: How crime, corruption, and informality influence foreign firms' commitment. Global Strategy Journal, 12(2), 209-244.
• Bu, J., and Cuervo-Cazurra, A. (2020). Informality costs: Informal entrepreneurship and innovation in emerging economies. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, 14(3), 329-368.
• Luo, Y., Zhang, H., and Bu, J. (2019). Developed country MNEs investing in developing economies: Progress and prospect. Journal of International Business Studies, 50(4), 633–667.
• Luo, Y., and Bu, J. (2018). Contextualizing international strategy by emerging market firms: A composition-based approach. Journal of World Business, 53(3), 337-355.
• Luo, Y., and Bu, J. (2018). When are emerging market multinationals more risk taking? Global Strategy Journal, 8(4), 635-664.
• Luo, Y., and Bu, J. (2016). How valuable is information and communication technology? A study of emerging economy enterprises. Journal of World Business, 51(2), 200-211.

Edited on February 9, 2026