Research
My research sits at the intersection of higher education finance and labor economics, with two main strands: (1) institutional pricing and the equity consequences of how colleges report Cost of Attendance, and (2) whether states are producing postsecondary credentials aligned with high-quality labor market opportunity.
Working Papers and Manuscripts Under Review
Too Few Good Jobs? Measuring State-Level Labor Market Alignment for Sub-Baccalaureate Credentials
Wright-Kim, J., Chou, G.-F., & Leigh, E. W. (2026). Under review.
Using a nine-year, 50-state panel that links IPEDS completion data to BLS occupational projections, this paper assesses whether states are producing sub-baccalaureate graduates aligned with well-paying, in-demand occupations. We test multiple definitions of alignment using Advance CTE crosswalks, MIT Living Wage thresholds, and O*NET Bright Outlook criteria.
Do Neighbors Shape the Sticker Price? Spatial Competition and State Funding in Cost of Attendance Reporting Over Time
Chou, G.-F., & Wright-Kim, J. (2026). EdWorkingPaper No. 26-1499, Annenberg Institute at Brown University.
This paper examines whether institutions adjust their reported Cost of Attendance in response to nearby peer institutions, and how state funding conditions shape these spatial spillovers over time. We draw on IPEDS panel data and apply spatial econometric methods to identify geographic clustering in COA reporting.
Conference Presentations
- Wright-Kim, J., Chou, G.-F., & Leigh, E. W. (2026, November). Definitions Matter: Are There Enough Good Jobs for Credential Holders Without a Four-Year Degree? Paper to be presented at the APPAM Fall Research Conference, Boston, MA.
- Chou, G.-F. (2026, November). Unaudited Cost Reporting in Higher Education: Spatial Competition and Consequences for Low-Income Borrowers. Paper to be presented at the APPAM Fall Research Conference, Boston, MA.
- Chou, G.-F., & Wright-Kim, J. (2026, October). Cost of Attendance Underreporting: Institutional Discretion, Spatial Patterns, and the Role of State Funding. Paper to be presented at the ASHE 51st Annual Conference (Virtual Conference Day).
- Chou, G.-F., & Wright-Kim, J. (2026, September). Do Neighbors Shape the Sticker Price? Spatial Spillovers in Institutional Cost of Attendance Reporting and Student Financial Burden. Paper to be presented at the SREE 2026 Conference, Baltimore, MD.
- Chou, G.-F. (2023, December). Can attending colleges in the Taipei metropolitan area benefit wages? Poster presented at the Annual Conference of the Taiwan Economic Association. New Taipei City, Taiwan.