Regular biography
Wilbur Townsend is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on Labor Economics, with particular emphasis on wage-setting, job quality, immigration, and structural methods. Townsend holds a PhD from Harvard University, awarded in 2025. His work is accessible via his profile page, where he also provides contact details and a Curriculum Vitae.
Scholar-generated biography
Wilbur Townsend is a labor economist whose research focuses on understanding the dynamics of labor markets and the factors influencing economic mobility. His work explores topics such as social capital, economic connectedness, and the impact of policy interventions on employment and earnings. Townsend's research includes the effects of broadband access on student achievement, the role of insurance and housing in climate adaptation, and the implications of medical marijuana laws on crime. He also investigates issues like employment misclassification, migrant location choice, and job displacement. His publications often combine empirical analysis with methodological contributions, such as the development of elastic net regression tools. His research provides insights into how labor market outcomes are shaped by both individual and structural factors.