Ph.D. Placement: Yanhao Wang

Yanhao Wang grew up in Guangdong, China. He earned his bachelor’s degree in finance and Master’s degree in Economics from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. He was also an exchange student at Queen’s University in Canada before joining BEPP in 2018 as a PhD student. As an applied microeconomist, Wang’s primary field of research has been the economics of healthcare.

“I study the behavior and decision-making of healthcare providers such as physicians and hospitals, and consequent impacts on patient health and medical expenditure,” says Wang. In his dissertation, Wang empirically shows that when physicians’ personal wealth shrinks, they might be more likely to recommend lucrative surgeries to their patients, leading to over-treatment and worse patient outcomes.

“I study the behavior and decision-making of healthcare providers such as physicians and hospitals, and consequent impacts on patient health and medical expenditure,” says Wang. In his dissertation, Wang empirically shows that when physicians’ personal wealth shrinks, they might be more likely to recommend lucrative surgeries to their patients, leading to over-treatment and worse patient outcomes.

Besides being a health economist, Wang is also interested in household finance and the real estate market. This aligns well with the strengths of the Alberta School of Business, which he joined as a postdoctoral fellow after graduating from the Kelley School. “I’m excited about my new job in Canada as this position offers me great flexibility in finishing my ongoing projects and exciting opportunities to explore these new research directions as well,” says Wang, who is thankful for the huge support from not only his advisors but also other faculty members in the department for the past six years.

“I’m so glad that I was treated as a colleague and a coauthor instead of just a student,” he says. “Everyone has been so generous in giving me encouragement and advice.”

Wang especially appreciated the chances of presenting his papers at BEPP’s Tuesday brown bags.

“I didn’t realize how invaluable these experiences were until I gave job talks at other schools!” he says.

COVID hit when Wang was in his third year in the program and had just finished his coursework.

“I was a bit lost at that time as I had limited interactions with everyone else because of the lockdown,” he says. Fortunately, Wang pulled himself out of the haze by running. While in Bloomington, he often enjoyed long Sunday morning runs at the B-Line Trail. He also ran Indy’s Half Marathon twice.

“Life is like a marathon,” says Wang. “Running has taught me never give up.”

Wang met the love of his life in the doctoral program. They married in front of family and friends on the same day of commencement before honeymooning in Italy and France. The newlyweds, who coauthored a paper together, will join the same school in Alberta.