Research Fellow: University of Otago, Wellington
Contact details
Email chang.yu@otago.ac.nz
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Commerce, Curtin University (Australia)
- Master of Finance, University of Technology, Sydney (Australia)
- Doctor of Philosophy, Victoria University of Wellington
Research interests and activities
Chang Yu is an economist and statistician with expertise in analysing linked administrative data within New Zealand's Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI). He uses large-scale longitudinal data to understand how housing, health, and social conditions interact to shape wellbeing and government service use. His research has examined service use among people receiving Emergency Housing Special Needs Grants (EHSNG), the contribution of housing assistance to reducing youth offending, and the effects of economic and social policies on health and wellbeing.
A major focus of his work has been the development of innovative methods to identify and measure housing insecurity using administrative data. Most recently, he developed a novel measure of housing tenure trajectories that captures patterns of housing stability, instability, and mobility over time, providing new opportunities to investigate the relationships between housing experiences and health and social outcomes. In 2026, he was awarded a Health Research Council (HRC) Explorer Grant to investigate the effects of economic policy changes on health and wellbeing using linked data from the IDI.
He has extensive experience translating complex statistical analyses into evidence that informs policy and practice, particularly in areas where housing, health, and social outcomes intersect.
Funding
- Primary investigator: Economic policy and people’s health in Aotearoa New Zealand (HRC)
- 2026 Health Research Council (HRC) Explorer Grant (24 months, NZ$150,000)
- Project title: Economic Policy and People's Health in Aotearoa New Zealand
In the media
- Youth offending drops with safe, stable housing – study (RNZ)
- Government’s crime stance conflicts with housing cuts – expert (Pacific Media Network)
- Disabled people reliant on emergency housing are not getting a fair go (The Post)
Editorial board
- August 2026: Joined the Early-Career Editorial Board (ECEB) as a Member of the New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online.
Editorial Board: Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online – Wiley Online Library
Publications
Yu, C., Bierre, S., Pehi, T., & Pierse, N. (2026). Continued tenancy in public housing and youth justice outcomes: Evidence from New Zealand. Social Policy & Administration. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/spol.70093 Journal - Research Article
Buchanan, M., Yu, C., Aspinall, C., Watt, R., Howden-Chapman, P., & Pierse, N. (2026). People with disabilities in emergency housing: An analysis of a national administrative database. International Journal on Homelessness, 6(1), 115-138. doi: 10.5206/ijoh.2023.3.22807 Journal - Research Article
Lin, H., & Yu, C. (2026). Disciplinary effect of short selling: Evidence from mergers and acquisitions. China Accounting & Finance Review, 28(1), 57-88. doi: 10.1108/CAFR-07-2024-0092 Journal - Research Article
Yu, C., Buchanan, M., Jenkins, M., Pehi, T., Fraser, B., Aspinall, C., Howden-Chapman, P., & Pierse, N. (2026). People receiving the Emergency Housing Special Needs Grant in Aotearoa New Zealand. International Journal of Housing Policy, 26(2), 298-321. doi: 10.1080/19491247.2025.2497118 Journal - Research Article
Yu, C., Buchanan, M., Te Ora, E., Pehi, T., Leigh, L., Howden-Chapman, P., … Pierse, N. (2025). The importance of housing assistance on reducing youth offending in New Zealand. Urban Policy & Research, 43(2), 121-136. doi: 10.1080/08111146.2025.2503141 Journal - Research Article