Meet UBC Sauder’s new faculty – Ron Yang

At UBC Sauder, faculty members are more than just ‘professors.’ They conduct impactful research that is changing how society views the world while also inspiring students to pursue their academic passions and become the thoughtful, values-driven leaders the business world needs. This year, UBC Sauder welcomes ten new lecturers and tenure-track faculty to the school. In this article, we introduce you to Ron Yang, Assistant Professor in the Strategy and Business Economics Division.

What brought you to UBC Sauder?

I joined UBC from a postdoc at Stanford GSB, and I received my PhD from Harvard Business School. The Strategy and Business Economics Division at UBC Sauder is a stellar group of researchers with strong intersections with my own research interests, and also creates a supportive environment for junior faculty. I could not imagine a better place to start my academic career.

What is your field of expertise and how did you get into this field?

My research focuses on industrial organization - the study of competition, market structure, and strategic behaviour - with an emphasis on transportation markets. Examples of questions in my ongoing research include: What might be the effect of self-driving trucks on shipping costs? Who benefits the most from a merger among North American railroads? Is there a shortage of truck stops, and what barriers prevent new stops from opening?

What continues to fuel your interest in these areas?

Transport markets are a fruitful area to study core industrial organization questions. Products - the service of moving things from point A to point B - are complex, leading to interesting strategic interactions. We can see the intermediate steps of production in tangible ways. Finally, many markets in these industries are experiencing disruption and transformation, which creates demand for research that can ask and answer big questions. 

What inspires you to teach?

For me, the best part of being an academic is simply talking to people and sharing ideas, and teaching is a core part of that experience. Students tend to be more diverse than your typical academic seminar audience full of Econ PhDs. That richness of background creates opportunities for me to learn from their experiences and see familiar ideas through a new light.

What’s one of the most interesting things you’ve discovered through your research or through your educational journey?

I have recently been digging into reports from roadside truck inspections, and I have learned people will blame anyone and anything for their missing paperwork: forgetful grandmothers, vengeful exes, and even the age-old plight of “my dog ate it.”

What do you believe is the future of your industry?

This is an exciting moment for the field of industrial organization. Recently, there has been increased interest in market power and strategic firm behaviour from across the economics profession, from labour economics to international trade. Along with expanded access to data and a maturing methodological toolkit, this has generated exciting opportunities to study new markets and learn from diverse collaborators. Finally, I believe that industrial organization can contribute insights to many of the timeliest policy questions today: How should we respond to the rise of global “tech” giants? What role should public funding play in new transportation infrastructure projects? How can we support firms on the transition to zero emissions?

Can you tell us an interesting fact about yourself?

Since the pandemic started, I have been learning to play the mandolin. I also enjoy reading fantasy and science fiction. One of my Vancouver weekend rituals is visiting White Dwarf Books on West Tenth.

What are you most looking forward to in Vancouver?

I seem to have picked a good year to join the bandwagon, so I am looking forward to watching the Canucks enjoy a long playoff run!