Wilbur Townsend

Wilbur Townsend is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on labor economics, immigration policy, and structural methods. He holds a PhD from Harvard University (expected 2025).

Key research areas include wage-setting mechanisms, job quality dynamics, and the impact of migration policies on labor markets. His work on New Zealand’s Essential Skills visa restrictions demonstrates how migration policies can inadvertently harm both migrants and local workers through wage suppression. He has also analyzed the effects of minimum wage policies, broadband infrastructure on education, and medical marijuana laws on crime rates.

Publications span journals like Nature and the Journal of Business & Economics Statistics, with notable contributions to social capital measurement and economic mobility. His GitHub repository (github.com/wilburtownsend) includes open-source projects like a replication of New Zealand’s minimum wage model, showcasing his commitment to transparent research methods.