After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1990, Yin-Wong Cheung joined the University of California in Santa Cruz. Currently, Cheung is a professor in the Economics Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz, a professor of the University of Hong Kong, a Research Fellow of the CESifo in Germany, and a Guest Professor of the Shandong University. Also, Cheung is enlisted in The America's Registry of Outstanding Professionals, the AcademicKeys Who's Who in Social Sciences Higher Education, Who's Who in Economics, and Who's Who in America.

Cheung's areas of research include econometrics, applied econometrics, exchange rate dynamics, asset pricing, output fluctuation, and economic issues in Asian Economies. He has published over 80 refereed articles in more than 40 professional journals. He is among the Top 1000 Economists (Tom Coupe, 2002, "Worldwide Rankings of Economists and Economics Departments"), the Top 500 Economists (http://student.vub.ac.be/~tcoupe/update/authorsarticles.html), and the Thomson ISI 100 Most-Cited Researchers in Economics (http://www.in-cites.com/nobel/2002-nobel-eco-top100.html).

Cheung was the president (2007) and vice president (2001, 2002) of CEANA (Chinese Economic Association in North America).