Derek Wu is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy. His research interests lie in labor and public economics, focusing on poverty and inequality, the effects of government programs, and the economics of education. His current research assesses how administrative burdens affect the take-up and targeting of welfare programs, as well as the short- and long-run effects of welfare cuts on economic well-being. Prior to graduate school, Wu worked at Ithaka S+R and the White House Council of Economic Advisers, and he has served as a member of the Maryland State Board of Education. He received a B.A. in public and international affairs from Princeton University.