Research Summary

My research focuses on network analysis and causal inference with applications to studying inequality and social policy (e.g., immigration, housing, education, and redistributive policy), health (e.g., peer effects, perceived risk, social network-based interventions, and pandemic), and organizations.

Regarding network analysis, my research has developed theories and methods for causal network analysis (e.g., by offering critical reviews, a design-based instrumental variable approach, a special experimental design, i.e., randomization of peer behaviors through social network-based interventions, and multilevel meta network analysis), analyzing network formation (e.g., theories on status differential and differential homophily), combing peer-reports and self-reports to improve data measurement (including a comprehensive framework on informant accuracy), and big and text network analysis (e.g., the “blocking-bridging-stacking” method). Regarding causal inference, I have developed methods for incorporating uncertainties in estimated propensity scores, combining difference-in-difference with matching, assessing covariate importance through treatment effect deviation, causal inference with networked treatment diffusion, analyzing outcomes with network dependence, etc. My work has also applied advanced methods to study the economic impact of restrictive immigration policies, children as a risk factor for eviction, the joint effects of network and neighborhood on perceived risk and development of cultural capital, inequality and homophily in friendship networks, the redistributive policy preference of political elites, the effectiveness of increasing government wages to reduce corruption, etc. My current projects examine the economic, political, and health effects of restrictive immigration policies, politicized pandemic behaviors and racialized pandemic consequences, and social networks and health (e.g., measurement, contagion, and interventions).

Research Interests 

Selected Publications

Edited Volumes

Network Analysis

Causal Inference

Inequality and Social Policy

Essays

Software and Code (>135K Downloads)