Derek Wu is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Economics at the University of Virginia. He received his Ph.D. in 2021 from the University of Chicago and his A.B. in 2013 from Princeton University.

His research interests lie in labor and public economics, focusing on poverty and inequality, the effects of government programs, and the economics of education. He is particularly interested in identifying the causes and consequences of participation in welfare programs, examining the role of administrative burdens in program enrollment, and understanding and better measuring the incomes and well-being of the poor.

Derek Wu joined IZA as a Research Affiliate in April 2023.