Ini U
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at University of California Berkeley (UC Berkeley)
Expertise
Microeconomics topics (like education, labor markets, etc), data analysis for social science research, public policy analysis
Bio
Hello! I'm a PhD candidate in economics at the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in education and labor economics (though I've supported students in a wide range of topics). I have 6 years of experience as both an economics tutor and mentor across courses such as labor economics, health economics, and macroeconomics. My research uses data analysis techniques to explore complex questions, like measuring teacher quality and the financial returns to a college education. I'm passionate about helping students develop their research skills and explore the world of economics! Outside of work, I enjoy learning Japanese, painting, and discovering new music.Project ideas
Exploring the Economics of Online Freelancers
Description: Dive into the gig economy by exploring how online freelancers set their hourly rates. You'll investigate how factors like profile quality, experience, and education affect pricing strategies. Skills/Knowledge: Learn how to analyze data from online platforms, apply basic econometrics, and understand market pricing strategies. Process: Collect data from freelancing websites, analyze the factors that influence hourly rates, and compare freelancers’ earnings across various categories. Outcome: Create a research paper analyzing your findings, possibly accompanied by a simple dashboard to visualize the data.
Analyzing the Effects of Minimum Wage Increases on Local Employment
Description: Study how increases in the minimum wage affect local employment rates, particularly in industries like retail and food services. Skills/Knowledge: Learn how to conduct a difference-in-differences analysis and interpret results using statistical software. Process: Gather data from government labor reports, analyze the employment effects of minimum wage changes in different regions, and control for other economic factors. Outcome: Create a report or research paper that evaluates the potential effects of minimum wage increases on local job markets.