Rate My Professor Pauline Khoo

Dr. Pauline Khoo serves as a Lecturer (Education Focused) in the Department of Economics, School of Business, at Monash University Malaysia. She obtained her PhD in Economics from the University of Illinois at Chicago on May 31, 2020, and also holds an MA in Economics from the same university. Earlier, she earned a BSc in Mathematics from Hollins University. Her primary research interests encompass economics of education, labor economics, and applied microeconomics. Her ongoing research investigates the determinants and consequences of higher education and its linkages to the labor market. Khoo is open to supervising PhD students, having accepted supervision from 2018 to 2025. Her work relates to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals including SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

In her academic career, Dr. Khoo has contributed significantly through peer-reviewed publications. Notable works include 'A peer like me? Peer effects among international students in doctoral programs' (2025, The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy), 'If you extend it, they will come: the effects of the STEM OPT extension' (2025, Applied Economics), 'Education, child health, and mining: evidence from Papua New Guinea' (2024, Asia-Pacific Sustainable Development Journal, co-authored with R. Ramachandran and K. Vasuthevan), 'Exploring the dynamics of access to electricity and educational outcomes in Asia' (2024, chapter in Energy Justice), and 'The effect of graduating with honors on earnings' (2018, Labour Economics, co-authored with B. Ost). She has secured research funding through the School Research HASS Grant in 2025 and the School Research Seed Grant in 2022. Khoo teaches a range of economics units at Monash University Malaysia, such as ECW1101 Introductory Microeconomics, ECW2141 Economics of Labour Market, ECW2731 Managerial Economics, ECM3810 Public Sector Economics, and ECM5953 Economics. Beyond academia, she has engaged the public via a presentation titled 'Dollars vs Degrees: Your Paycheck Today vs Your Potential Tomorrow' in October 2023 and provided expert media commentary on 'Post-SPM Hustle: Why Some Teens Are Choosing Part-Time Jobs Over University' in May 2025. Her publications in esteemed journals underscore her impact in applied microeconomics and economics of education.