Dr Yanan Zhang is a distinguished social care economist whose work sits at the intersection of population ageing, health economics, and public policy. Since 2020, she has held the position of Senior Research Fellow at the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing.ageing.ox.ac.uk Her research integrates robust quantitative methods with longitudinal survey data to inform interventions that enhance well-being for older adults and sustain caregiving systems.ageing.ox.ac.uk+2sustainable-care.sites.sheffield.ac.uk+2
In addition to her role at Oxford, Dr Yanan Zhang holds an Honorary Research Fellowship with Oxfordshire County Council.ageing.ox.ac.uk Her research is not purely academic; she regularly contributes to policy debates, evidence submissions, and reports with implications for social care systems. Her expertise in the economics of informal care, family dynamics, and ageing populations has become increasingly relevant in global settings facing demographic change.ageing.ox.ac.uk+2goltc.org+2
This article dives into Dr Yanan Zhang early life and education, career path, research areas, achievements, and ongoing work and explores what her contributions mean for aging societies.
Early Life and Education
Dr Yanan Zhang earned her PhD in Economics from the University of Birmingham in 2018.ageing.ox.ac.uk+1 Her doctoral research was supervised by Professors Alessandra Guariglia and David Dickinson, focusing on savings behaviour in later life, household composition, the reallocation of resources among older adults, and the efficiency and utilization of public health insurance schemes.ageing.ox.ac.uk+1
Before her PhD, she acquired strong quantitative and socio-economic training. Her earlier education and research roles laid the foundation for her interest in demographic transitions and how economic incentives and constraints affect aging populations and caregiving. Although specific details about her undergraduate institutions are less emphasized in public profiles, it is clear her postgraduate training combined economics, social policy, statistics, and longitudinal data analysis.sustainable-care.sites.sheffield.ac.uk+1
Her PhD thesis, which addressed savings and ageing populations, was an important milestone; not only did it contribute original empirical analysis, but it also shaped her future focus on the economic costs and benefits of informal care and the motivations and constraints of older individuals, especially in relation to family dynamics and public policy.ageing.ox.ac.uk+1
Professional Career Path
After completing her doctorate, Dr Yanan Zhang was a Research Associate and Fellow on the Sustainable Care: Connecting People and Systems project.sustainable-care.sites.sheffield.ac.uk+1 In that capacity she conducted empirical analysis of large-scale survey data, modelling care system costs and contributions, assessing well-being impacts for carers, and exploring social care reforms in England.sustainable-care.sites.sheffield.ac.uk+1
Since 2020, her current role at the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing has allowed her to lead research with a quantitative focus in various domains: the economics of population ageing; labor market participation among older adults; informal care costs; family dynamics; and demographic challenges.ageing.ox.ac.uk+1 She also teaches postgraduate modules such as Econometrics and Statistical Methods for Social Science Research.ageing.ox.ac.uk
Her work isn’t only academic. Dr Yanan Zhang has been involved in evidence submissions for the Care Leave Bill and the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee, with research intended to inform policy and legislative decisions.ageing.ox.ac.uk This combination of rigorous academic output and active policy engagement positions her as a bridge between empirical research and real-world impact.
Research Focus and Expertise
Dr Yanan Zhang primary areas of research include the economics of ageing, especially informal caregiving, labour market participation in older populations, and family dynamics.ageing.ox.ac.uk+1 One central line of inquiry is the cost—financial, emotional, and societal—of informal/unpaid care for older adults, and how care provision interacts with health, well-being, and policy.ageing.ox.ac.uk+2sustainable-care.sites.sheffield.ac.uk+2
She also studies functional transitions among older adults (e.g., how older people’s physical or cognitive function changes over time), including the roles of different family caregivers (sons vs daughters) in rural China and England.ageing.ox.ac.uk+2sustainable-care.sites.sheffield.ac.uk+2 Another important area is understanding unmet care needs—instances where older adults require care but are not receiving adequate support. Her 2024 work, for example, examined “Spousal Characteristics and Unmet Care Needs: A Longitudinal National Study of Adults Aged 50 and over in England.”ageing.ox.ac.uk
Her methodological strength lies in large-scale longitudinal survey data, causal inference, econometric modelling, and statistical tools. She often uses these to inform policy debates, e.g. in social care reform in England, or exploring demographic deficits and caregiving in China.ageing.ox.ac.uk+1
Achievements and Recognitions
Dr Yanan Zhang has several notable publications in top academic journals. Her research draws international attention. For instance, her studies in 2023 and 2024 have addressed key issues like unmet care needs, functional transitions among older adults, and caregiver well-being.ageing.ox.ac.uk
She has contributed to policy reports and evidence submissions—for example, for the Care Leave Bill in the UK and for scrutiny in the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee. Such contributions demonstrate her influence beyond academia and into public policy and legislation.ageing.ox.ac.uk
Her teaching responsibilities (e.g. in econometrics and statistical methods), plus her honorary fellowship at Oxfordshire County Council, reflect recognition both in her field and in community/applied settings.ageing.ox.ac.uk+1
While specific awards aren’t heavily listed in public sources, her role and output suggest that her peers value both the rigor and societal relevance of her work. Her profile as a researcher who successfully combines quantitative scholarship with care policy impact is itself a strong recognition.
Current Work and Future Directions
At present, Dr Yanan Zhang continues to explore the relationships between caregiver well-being, informal care intensity, and policy interventions. Her ongoing research includes work on how differing caregiver relationships (spouse, child, etc.) affect health and well-being outcomes, especially in aging contexts such as rural China and across England.ageing.ox.ac.uk
Another ongoing topic is demographic deficits and how ageing populations affect economies, public finances, and social care systems’ sustainability. Her 2024 study, “Population ageing and the demographic deficit: exploring the second demographic dividend,” is an example of such work.ageing.ox.ac.uk
Looking ahead, potential future directions may include deeper micro-level work on caregiving, perhaps integrating qualitative studies to complement her quantitative models; exploring cross-country comparisons; and evaluating policy interventions (e.g. care leave policies, long-term care funding) in different institutional settings. Also, as societies grapple with increasing longevity and ageing, her research is likely to rise in importance for informing health and care policy.
Conclusion
Dr Yanan Zhang stands out as a leader in the economics of ageing and informal care. Her academic journey—from PhD work on savings in later life to senior research roles at Oxford—has produced insights critical for societies facing ageing populations, care challenges, and fiscal pressures. Her work provides both theoretical depth and actionable evidence for policy makers.
Her contributions illustrate how rigorous quantitative research can inform debates on social care, well-being, and aging, ensuring that older adults and caregivers are not left behind. For anyone interested in demography, health economics, or social policy, Dr Yanan Zhang body of work offers both inspiration and guidance.
FAQs About Dr Yanan Zhang
Who is Dr Yanan Zhang?
A Senior Research Fellow at the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, specializing in the economics of ageing, social care, and family dynamics.ageing.ox.ac.uk
What are her main research areas?
Informal caregiving, functional transitions among older adults, unmet care needs, aging societies, labour market participation of older adults, and policy implications in care systems.ageing.ox.ac.uk
Where did she receive her PhD, and what was her thesis about?
She got her PhD in Economics from the University of Birmingham in 2018. Her thesis covered savings in later life, resource reallocation among older individuals, and efficiency and utilization of public health insurance.ageing.ox.ac.uk+1
What methods does she use in her research?
Boast large-scale longitudinal survey data, econometric modelling, statistical methods for causal inference, functional transitions, and comparative analysis across geographies.ageing.ox.ac.uk
Has Dr Yanan Zhang influenced policy?
Yes—she has made evidence submissions for legislation like the Care Leave Bill, contributed to House of Lords reports, and her research is used in debates about social care reform, especially in England.ageing.ox.ac.uk
What is one of her recent studies?
Among her 2024 papers is “Spousal Characteristics and Unmet Care Needs: A Longitudinal National Study of Adults Aged 50 and over in England.”ageing.ox.ac.uk
Is her work relevant outside the UK?
Yes. She does work with data from China (including rural population studies) and her themes—ageing, care, family dynamics—are globally relevant.ageing.ox.ac.uk+1
Does she teach or mentor?
She teaches postgraduate modules such as Econometrics and Statistical Methods for Social Science Research. She is involved in supervision and mentoring through her roles at research institutions.ageing.ox.ac.uk
Where can one find her publications?
Her papers are published in leading peer-reviewed journals; many can be accessed via the Oxford Institute’s website, Google Scholar, and sometimes via policy reports.ageing.ox.ac.uk+1
What are her potential future directions?
Expect more research on evaluating policy interventions, cross-national ageing issues, caregiver well-being, and contributions to social care reform amid demographic pressures.
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