Student News PhD Student in Action: Zihe Guo
Zihe (Lauren) Guo is a Ph.D. candidate at the Martin School of Public Policy and Administration. We asked her a few questions about her work!
My research interests include public budgeting, financial management, and nonprofit finance and management. My previous studies focused on a series of questions such as, how do debts impact fiscal volatility of local governments? Do nonprofit organizations have systematic and nonsystematic financial risk? My dissertation focuses on borrowing costs of local governments in the U.S. and China, particularly paying attention to debts issued through conduits. As an alternative way to issuing bonds, the conduit debt financing has been widely used by local governments and nonprofit organizations. Since most of local governments have been burdened with heavy debts, understanding whether or not the conduit debt financing actually decrease borrowing costs is very important.
Discovering my favorite research area is an incremental process. I have broad interests and strong curiosity for lots of issues. In the process of conducting research, I am more and more aware of my “true love” research topics. Discovering a great idea is always very exciting, but the most exciting moments appear when I find that exploring this idea will answer important questions and lead to some unprecedented research.
Challenges and opportunities are always hand in hand. For example, data is not always easily accessed and unpredictable and confused research results are often discovered. But it is a great pleasure to solve all kinds of problems and finish an excellent research project.
Except my own interests, another important reason I really enjoy the experience of studying and doing research here is that I always receive the support from faculty and students in the Martin School. They are always supportive to each other, and their infinite potentials are inspiring me every day. Pursuing a Ph.D. degree is like drinking a cup of coffee, a little bitter, but very mellow. Thanks to the Martin School, these years have been memorable and valuable.