I am an Assistant Professor of Economics at Weber State University.
I specialize in experimental economics and applied microeconomic
theory. My research mainly focuses on the economic applications of
social
networks and communication. Some recent studies of mine also branch
into interpersonal time preference and intra-household decision
making.
My interest in experimental methods developed as an undergraduate student at Shanghai Jiaotong University. I worked as a research assistant in the first laboratory for experimental economics in China founded by Nobel Laureate Dr. Vernon Smith. In May 2013, I received my PhD degree in economics from the Interdisciplinary Center for Economic Science at George Mason University.
My
passion for teaching economics has led me to design a "flipped" class
that utilizes hands-on experiments. This style of teaching creates a
lively and prolonged memory
of the economic concepts at play. I also enjoy mentoring undergraduate
research projects and advising the student club for economics and business majors.
Beyond my academic life, I live in a peaceful rural setting and enjoy exploring nature through hiking, trail running, paddle boarding and skiing.
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Research Fields: |
Teaching Fields: |
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| Applied Social Network Theory, Experimental Statistics and Methods, Applied Microeconomic Theory, Behavioral Economics |
Principles of Microeconomics, Introduction to Economics, Game Theory, Experimental Economics, Behavioral Economics Statistics, Econometrics, Mathematical Economics, Social Network Economics |
Publications:
Growing Stars: A Laboratory Analysis of Network Formation, with Daniel Houser, Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, forthcoming
http://econpapers.repec.org/paper/gmswpaper/1035.htm
Deception in Networks: A Laboratory Study, with Daniel Houser, Journal of Public Economic Theory, forthcoming
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2514037
Exploring Network Behavior Using Cluster Analysis, with Daniel Houser, New Perspectives on Internationalization and Competitiveness, Springer, 2015
http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-319-11979-3_10
China Bashing: Does Trade Drive the 'Bad' News about China in the U.S.?,
with Carlos Ramirez, Review of International Economics, Vol. 20, Issue
2, pp. 350-363, 2012,
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-9396.2012.01026.x/pdf
Completed Paper:
Money or Friends: Social Identity and Deception in Networks, with Daniel Houser and Yifan Dai, Revise and Resubmit, European Economic Review
Convex Time Budgets and Individual Discount Rates in the Long Run, with Douglass Shaw, Therese Grijalva and Jayson Lusk, under review, Environmental and Resources Economics
Working Paper:
Promoting the “Right” Stars: Network Formation with Heterogeneous Agents and Imperfect Information, with Daniel Houser, working paper
I’ll Be There: A Natural Field Experiment on Keeping and Breaking Promises, with Jared Barton, working paper
Shouts and Whispers: a Laboratory Analysis of Public Vs Private Communication in Networks, with Yifan Dai, working paper
Research in Progress:
Interpersonal Time Discounting, with Therese Grijalva, Douglass Shaw and Jayson Lusk
Intrahousehold Time Discounting, with Therese Grijalva and Matt Gnagey
Teach Social Dillema Using Experiential Learning Tools, [solo project]
Designing Tontine for Biodiversity, with Gregory Parkhurst