Michael B. Wong

Assistant professor, HKU


About

Research

Teaching

Notes

Other Writing

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About

I am an assistant professor in management and strategy with a joint appointment in economics at HKU Business School. I received my BA from Harvard University in 2012 and my PhD from MIT in 2022. My research covers topics including labor service outsourcing, theory of the firm, money and barter, public housing, and rent control.

Here is my CV. You can reach me at mbwong@hku.hk or DM me on Twitter. If you’re a research-track student at HKU interested in economics, I’m occasionally looking for RAs. Feel free to email me!


Working Papers

Labor Market Effects of Domestic Outsourcing: Evidence from Legalization in Brazil

(with Mayara Felix)

Last Updated: June 2023

Abstract (click to expand)

Twitter thread

Does Outsourcing Smooth Labor Demand?

(with Duoxi Li)

Last Updated: November 2022

Abstract (click to expand)

What is Money? Evidence from Introducing Digital Currency to a Barter Community

Last Updated: February 2022

Abstract (click to expand)

Twitter thread

Presentation Video (September 2022)

Public Housing for Sale: Evidence from Hong Kong's Tenants Purchase Scheme

Last Updated: September 2023

Abstract (click to expand)

Ideological Bias and Trust in Information Sources

(with Matthew Gentzkow and Allen T. Zhang)

Last Updated: July 2023

Revise and resubmit, AEJ: Micro

Abstract (click to expand)


Publications


Work in Progress

The Firm as a Nexus of Relational Contracts

(with Duoxi Li)

Means of Payment vs. Media of Exchange

(with Baiyun Jing)

Digital Money Adoption and Redemption Convenience

(with Baiyun Jing, Yang You, and Yulin Zhong)


Teaching

Current: Instructor for HKU’s PMGM7004 (Global Management from Economics Perspectives) and PMGM7019 (Economics of Strategy and Organization).

Previous: TA for MIT’s Intro Micro (undergrad, 2022), Intermediate Micro (undergrad, 2018-20), Applied Econ for Managers (EMBA, 2019), Org Econ (PhD, 2018), and Industrial Organization II (PhD, 2022).


Notes

Things I learned in Grad School (the Hard Way)


Other Writing

What Caused Hong Kong’s Housing Crisis? (Hong Kong Economic Policy Green Paper, 2022-9-23, Twitter thread)

香港房屋危機之謎 (香港經濟政策綠皮書, 2022-9-23)

In Hong Kong’s Olympic glory, a glimpse of a hopeful new future (SCMP, 2021-8-4)

Liberal or conservative, Hongkongers must learn to listen to those they disagree with (SCMP, 2019-9-7, with Spike Lee and Josephine Au)

預算案500億推創科 怎用得其所 (香港經濟日報, 2018-3-18)

社會面對新挑戰 須3方面調整 (香港經濟日報, 2017-9-13)