Welcome!

My name is Kayla Jones and I am an applied economics PhD Candidate at the Brooks School of Public Policy at Cornell University. My research primarily focuses on using quasi-experimental methods to answer policy-relevant questions in urban economics and public finance. I am a recipient of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.

Previously, I was a Senior Research Assistant at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and a pre-doctoral research fellow at Harvard University. I earned my B.S. in Economics from Morgan State University and am an alumna of the American Economic Association Summer Training Program.

Alongside my doctoral studies, I work part-time as an economist at the Burning Glass Institute, where I analyze pressing labor-market issues and translate clients’ economic questions into actionable insights.

Beyond my research and consulting work, I create economics content for social media and write a Substack focused on making socioeconomic issues clear, equitable, and relevant to everyday life. I also use the platform to share reflections on my experiences in graduate school.