Yang Cheng

I study rural livability and community development with a focus on developing practical and actionable knowledge for rural communities in the U.S. My research focuses on what makes rural places not just economically viable but genuinely good places to live, work, start a business, and raise a family. As I have explored what shapes livability in rural areas, I have become increasingly interested in how it shifts during economic changes. This includes how shifting industries and evolving labor markets affect the people and places that are often left out of broader economic conversations.