'I've been interested in economics, economic impacts, and related social issues for a long time,' says Zhang, who majored in mathematical economics as an undergraduate. 'I wanted to apply my math skills to see how we could improve policies and their effects.' Zhang is interested in how to improve conditions for workers. She believes it's important to build relationships with policymakers, focusing on an evidence-driven approach to policy, while always remembering to center those the policies may affect. 'We have to remember the people whose lives are impacted by business operations and legislation,' she says. Zhang began investigating employee productivity, artificial intelligence, and related economic and labor market phenomena early in her time as a doctoral student, collaborating frequently with fellow PhD students in the department. A collaboration with economics doctoral student Shakked Noy yielded the 2023 study investigating ChatGPT as a tool to improve productivity. Their...
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