Yaming Cao

Welcome! My name is Yaming Cao. 

I am a researcher (Tenure-track) at The ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research, after I earned my PhD from the Ohio State University.  My fields of expertise: public, health, and labor economics.

Individuals face a wide range of risks through out their lives. How can society best protect people against life-cycle risks—such as health shocks, aging, and family transitions?

The first strand of my research focuses on the design of social insurance systems, which play a central role in shielding households from such risks. I study how to design social insurance programs that effectively protect individuals and families from life-cycle uncertainties while minimizing unintended distortions to labor supply and productivity. Developing effective social insurance requires understanding both the nature of the risks individuals face and the economic consequences of those risks. Building on these empirical insights, I then explore how social insurance designs can be improved to enhance efficiency and equity.

The second strand of my research shifts the focus from institutional design to individuals themselves, asking how people can be better prepared to manage life-cycle risks. In particular, I examine how social interactions shape skill formations, thereby influencing individuals’ capacity to cope with risks over the life course.  

Contact: Yaming.Cao@zew.de

Address: Office 329, L7 1, 68161 Mannheim, Germany

Curriculum Vitae