I am an Economist in the World Bank's Development Research Group, currently working on the World Development Report on AI.
I completed my PhD at Columbia University in 2021, and hold Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
My research interests include technology adoption, growth and development, labor economics, economic geography, political economy, and economic history.
Contact: ygwee.econ [at] gmail [dot] com
Publications
Explorations in Economic History, 2026, 101 (101771). [Ungated]
Explorations in Economic History, 2025, 97 (101694). [Ungated]
Coverage: Marginal Revolution
Working Papers
Previous version: World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 11275
Coverage: World Bank DEC LinkedIn
Coverage: World Bank DEC LinkedIn
“The Effect of Land Use Regulations: Evidence from the Overturning of Local Planning Authorities’ Decisions in the United Kingdom” (with Di Song Tan)
New draft coming soon.
“Great Expectations: Urban Development in 17th Century London” (with Jacob Field, Di Song Tan)
Presented at NBER Summer Institute 2021 (Urban Economics). Awarded Vickrey Award for Best Third Year Paper, Columbia University.
“Made by History: The Spatial Distribution of Manufacturing Industries in the US”