Her research focuses on housing, consumption, wealth inequality, social security, and higher education. Yang's research has been published in Review of Economic Dynamics, Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, International Economic Review, European Economic Review, Journal of Labor Economics, Journal of Monetary Economics, and other publications. Before joining Louisiana State University in August 2013, Yang studied at Peking University in China (B.A. and M.A) and the University of Minnesota (Ph.D.) and worked at the University at Albany – State University of New York as an Assistant Professor.