By Shaping the Future of Work: Whitney Zhang’s Evidence-Based Approach to Labor Economics
Meet Whitney Zhang: Economics PhD student at MIT
Whitney Zhang, a PhD candidate in the Department of Economics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), firmly believes in the value of every worker, irrespective of their rung on the corporate ladder. This core belief guides her as she delves into labor economics, scrutinizing how various workplace decisions – managerial or technological – affect different employees across the income classes.
They Journey from Math to Meaningful Policy and the Influence of Technology
Whitney’s foray into economics was inspired by her desire to apply mathematical skills to real-world issues. “For a long time, I’ve been interested in economics, economic impacts, and related social issues,” explains the former undergraduate major in mathematical economics, who sees the potential application of data and analysis in policy-making to improve people’s lives.
For Whitney, putting people at the heart of economic research is crucial. She underlines the need to remember the individuals whose lives are affected by corporate activities and legislation. In addition to informing policy with evidence, her work is about genuinely engaging with those who are directly impacted.
At MIT, Whitney has delved into the intriguing intersection of labor policy and emerging technologies. One of her early collaborations with Shakked Noy, a fellow PhD student, led her to examine how generative AI tools like ChatGPT could boost worker productivity. Their 2023 study confirmed that ChatGPT notably enhanced performance in writing tasks, especially for workers who initially faced challenges.
This research “provided concrete data on how impactful these types of tools might be in the workplace and on the labor market,” notes Zhang. It has been hailed as one of the earliest pieces of evidence on the productivity effects of generative AI.
The Real-World Experience Shaping Zhang’s Academic Journey
Venturing into another area of research, Whitney Zhang begins to unravel the enigma of unpredictable work schedules, particularly affecting low-wage earners. Working with Nathan Lazarus, another MIT economics PhD student, they’re examining payroll data to unearth the reasons companies implement irregular scheduling and its impact on employee well-being. Their research could lead to unique insights beneficial to not just big corporations, but smaller businesses as well.
Whitney’s academic path has been shaped by diverse experiences. From attending college-level courses with veterans in high school, sparking her interest in socioeconomic inequality and associated policies, to participating in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) at MIT, and internships at the World Bank and Federal Reserve Bank of New York, she is incessantly expanding her repertoire.
Not confined to academics, Whitney mentors high school students through the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center College Access Program. Besides her mentoring efforts and studies, she enjoys unleashing her creativity at the W20 Arts Studios and simply taking time off to relish her other loves, spicy soups and paddling on the Charles River.
Backed by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program and the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, Zhang remains dedicated to bettering the world of work – one person, data point, and policy at a time.
