Hello! I am an associate research fellow at Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP). I graduated from the University of Houston in 2023. My research interests are in Labor Economics, Economics of Networks, and Economics of Education. My research focuses on the networks applied to labor economics. I am particularly interested in how networks are formed in early periods and its impact on future outcomes such as inequalities and mobility. In addition, I am also interested in policies affecting mother's health outcomes or their career.
weonhyeok.chung@gmail.com
Friendship Formation by Race and Abilities
This paper examines the formation of friendships among adolescents, with a focus on race and achievements. Using a dyadic regression, we initially demonstrate that students tend to form friendships with individuals who possess similar characteristics. Subsequently, we find that the sensitivities to differences in GPA (Grade Point Average) between Black pairs and White pairs of students are comparable. This implies that peer pressure related to academic performance is similar across the two racial groups. Moreover, our findings indicate that these sensitivities are less pronounced in friendships between individuals of different races compared to friendships within the same racial group. Through counterfactual exercises, we ascertain that the lower number of friendships among high-achieving Black students, in comparison to their White peers, can be attributed to the scarcity of minority students rather than differences in GPA.
Signaling or Favoritism? Referrals in the Youth Labor Market
I investigate the role of referrals on wages of young workers at beginning of their career. I disaggregate referrals into referrals from relatives and referrals from non-relatives. Using NLSY79 data, I find that young male workers with referrals from relatives earn a wage premium, despite having lower AFQT scores, compared to those without referrals. On the other hand, those with referrals from non-relatives suffer an initial wage penalty. These gaps disappear when they reach five years of potential experience. Taken as a whole, the results suggest nepotism rather than signaling values for the referrals from relatives.
Air Quality Warnings and Birth Outcomes: The Role of Information and Behavior