Economics · Data · Cities

I study how shocks and policies reshape where and how people spend.

I am an Economics Ph.D. candidate at George Washington University. My work combines applied econometrics, large-scale transaction data, and spatial analysis to study consumer behavior, urban change, and public policy.

Explore my research View academic CV
Ph.D. Candidate Applied Econometrics Data Science
Portrait of Donghao Wu
Methods & SkillsCausal inference · Python · R TeachingEconomics & statistics ResearchThree papers

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Consumer Behavior Urban Economics Public Policy Spatial Data Causal Inference

Selected work

Research

My dissertation studies consumer spending responses to economic shocks and public policies across space and time.

01

Urban economics · Consumer behavior

How Does City-Center Spending Respond to COVID-19 Relative to Surrounding Areas? Evidence from U.S. Metropolitan Areas

Uses large-scale transaction data and difference-in-differences methods to quantify persistent shifts in consumer spending within U.S. metropolitan areas after COVID-19.

Difference-in-DifferencesSpatial DataTransactions
Research focus

The project examines how spending moved between central business districts and surrounding neighborhoods, and how patterns varied across cities and income groups.

02

Public economics · Local markets

Temporary Tax Relief and Consumer Demand: Evidence from U.S. Sales Tax Holidays

Evaluates how temporary sales tax holidays affect high-frequency consumer spending, with a focus on geographic heterogeneity and cross-border shopping.

Event StudyHigh-Frequency DataPolicy Evaluation
Research focus

The analysis uses fine spatial cells and distance to treated-state borders to show how policy effects vary across local markets.

03

Monetary economics · Consumption

Monetary Policy Transmission to Consumption: Evidence from Transaction-Level Data

Examines the dynamic response of consumer spending to monetary policy surprises using high-frequency transaction data and local projections.

Local ProjectionsMonetary ShocksTime Series
Research focus

The project traces spending responses across horizons and studies whether positive and negative monetary policy surprises transmit differently.

In the classroom

Teaching

I translate quantitative ideas into clear, structured explanations and help students build confidence with economics and statistics.

George Washington University · 2021–Present

Teaching Assistant

Math for Economics and Probability & Statistics for Economics.

  • Lead discussion sections, review sessions, and office hours.
  • Develop practice problems, guided notes, and exam questions.
  • Nominated for the 2024 Philip Amsterdam Graduate Student Teaching Award.

Research in practice

Experience

Across research and industry settings, I build analysis-ready data, develop empirical strategies, and communicate results to decision-makers.

2026

Intelliimpact · Remote

Data Science Intern

Built analytics pipelines from AMI time-series, weather, and grid connectivity data; developed forecasting and outage-risk models; and supported operational monitoring through Tableau dashboards.

2023

Federal Statistical Research Data Center · Washington, DC

Research Assistant

Integrated large-scale CoStar, InfoUSA, and restricted Census microdata to study retail-space mismatch and commercial vacancy across five major U.S. cities.

2019–20

Public Spend Forum · Washington, DC

Research Analyst Intern

Analyzed procurement data, developed Tableau dashboards, and expanded a technology supplier database to improve public-sector supplier discovery.

Toolkit

Methods & technical skills

I work across research design, statistical programming, machine learning, and data communication.

01

Programming

Python · Pandas · NumPy · Scikit-learn · MySQL · R · Stata

02

Econometrics

Difference-in-Differences · Event Studies · Instrumental Variables · Local Projections · Matching

03

Machine Learning

Decision Trees · Random Forest · Gradient Boosting · K-means · DBSCAN

04

Visualization

Tableau · Geospatial Analysis · Research Figures · Data Storytelling

Academic path

Education

Current

Ph.D. Candidate in Economics

George Washington University

2020

M.S. in Economics

Georgetown University

2018

B.A. in Economics

University of Maryland, College Park