Yana Gallen

Yana Gallen is an Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, where she conducts research at the intersection of labor economics and gender studies. Her work primarily focuses on understanding the gender wage gap, the impact of family policies on labor market outcomes, and how workplace networks function across genders.

Dr. Gallen received her PhD in Economics from Northwestern University in 2016. Her educational background has provided her with strong foundations in economic theory and empirical methods, which she applies to pressing questions about gender inequality in the labor market.

Gallen's research centers on labor economics with a specific focus on gender disparities. Her work examines the complex interplay between motherhood, career progression, and wage determination. She investigates whether gender wage gaps stem from productivity differences, discrimination, or preferences, often using rich Danish register data that links workers and firms. Her research also explores how family-friendly policies affect labor market outcomes, with particular attention to indirect and unanticipated consequences of policy reforms. A significant portion of her recent work examines how information flows differ by gender in professional networks and career advice contexts.

Her publication record shows a consistent focus on gender economics, with recent work expanding to examine the impacts of major policy changes like the Dobbs decision on reproductive health behaviors. Gallen frequently employs natural experiments and field experiments to establish causal relationships, demonstrating methodological rigor across her research portfolio.

Dr. Gallen is affiliated with the Inequality: Measurement, Interpretation, and Policy (MIP) network, reflecting her commitment to research that informs policy debates around economic inequality. Her work bridges academic research and policy relevance, with findings that have implications for family leave policies, workplace accommodations, and efforts to reduce gender disparities in professional settings.

She teaches courses including PPHA 40321: The Modern Welfare State and PPHA 32410: Advanced Microeconomics for Public Policy II, bringing her research expertise into the classroom to train the next generation of policy analysts and economists.