Professor Zimmerman studies labor economics and public finance, with a focus on the economics of education. His research examines the social, economic, and policy determinants of educational attainment and the returns to education, with an eye towards understanding how education systems contribute to upward mobility, income inequality, and growth.  Recent work asks how access to selective higher education affects upward mobility into top jobs and top incomes, how school districts can design transparent and equitable public school choice systems, and how public investment in education affects student outcomes. Partnerships with local and national governments to design, implement, and evaluate public policies are central to Professor Zimmerman's research.