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• Microeconomic Theory I (ECON 500a)
• Econometrics I (ECON 550a)
• Doctoral Student Seminar (F&ES 900a)
• Microeconomic Theory II (ECON 501b)
• Econometrics II (ECON 551b)
• Valuing the Environment (F&ES 802b)
• Green Markets: Voluntary and Information Based Approaches to Environmental Management (F&ES 803b)
• Agriculture and the Environment (F&ES 810b)
• Environment and Development: An Economic Approach (F&ES 811b)
• Our Ph.D. Environmental Economics Course Sequence (expected of all students): Ph.D. Environmental and Natural Resource Economics (F&ES 904a) and Ph.D. Environmental & Energy Economics (F&ES 905b)
• Economic Field Courses: Advanced Microeconomic Theory, Applied Econometrics, Development, Econometrics III – V, Industrial Organization, International Trade, Labor, Macroeconomic Theory, Public Finance (for a course listing with numbers and descriptions, see the link below) 
• Research specific coursework: Applied Spatial Statistics (F&ES 781b), Climate and Air Pollution Seminar (F&ES 705b), Environmental Hydrology (F&ES 714b), Modeling Geographic Space (F&ES 755b), Optimization (ENAS 525), Remote Sensing of Land Cover and Land Use Change (F&ES 725a), Remote Sensing of the Earth from Space (F&ES 726b)
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Environmental Economics: M.S., Ph.D. 

The Environmental Economics programs train students in state-of-the-art economics and policy analysis pertaining to environmental issues, combining an emphasis on quantitative approaches with unique strengths in interdisciplinary and marine applications such as fisheries, offshore energy, coastal land use, sea level rise, and climate change. Students study how to manage environmental resources, evaluate the effectiveness of policies, ensure sustainability and environmental justice, and address local and global environmental change.

Students build expertise in policy areas of their choosing and acquire cutting-edge research and analytical skills. The EE programs are appropriate for students with quantitative social science backgrounds seeking to better understand environmental issues; STEM students who want to apply their interests to public policy; persons with experience in public or private sectors looking to advance their environmental policy expertise; and recently graduated students continuing their matriculation with focused interests related to environmental economics. Students from diverse backgrounds and international students are encouraged to apply.

Degrees Offered

Environmental Economics-M.S.

Environmental Economics-Ph.D.

Application Deadlines

The  2023-2024  UD graduate student tuition rate per credit hour is $1028 .

Some financial aid may be available to qualified students.

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Ph.D. in Environment and Sustainability

Our Environment and Sustainability Ph.D. equips students with diverse perspectives to develop profound new ideas, knowledge and approaches to the most important concerns facing people and the planet. The program provides training to develop deep understandings of the structures of current environment and sustainability issues today and to develop analytical research to address them. This requires learning in multiple disciplines and how they, together, can better provide greater knowledge to bear to the social, environmental, political, scientific and economic factors creating the situation we face today. Our goal is to prepare students for a range of careers in academia, as well as public and private sectors.

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HEEP Announces AY 2023-2024 Paper Prize Competition

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International Relations Expert Meghan O’Sullivan Expresses Optimism for Climate Solutions in Newest Episode of “Environmental Insights”

CAMBRIDGE MA. – International relations expert Meghan O'Sullivan , the Jeane Kirkpatrick Professor of the Practice of International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School , expressed her hopes for achieving successful international climate policy solutions in the newest episode of “...

Behavioral Economist Hunt Allcott Examines Effects of Electric Vehicle Subsidies in Newest Episode of “Environmental Insights”

CAMBRIDGE MA. – Behavioral economist Hunt Allcott , Professor of Global Environmental Policy at the Doerr School of Sustainability at Stanford University, questioned the impact of new and used electric vehicle (EV) subsidies ... Read more about Behavioral Economist Hunt Allcott Examines Effects of Electric Vehicle Subsidies in Newest Episode of “Environmental Insights”

The Harvard Environmental Economics Program will award three prizes in May 2024 for the best research papers addressing topics in environmental, energy, and natural-resources economics.

The deadline for receipt of submissions is Monday, May 6th, at 12:00 PM (U.S./Canada ET). In the interest of fairness, there will be no exceptions with regard to the deadline.

Winners will be announced by Thursday May 16th, 2024.

See attached flyer for more details.

Learn about HEEP

HEEP is a university-wide initiative addressing today's complex environmental challenges and is based in the Harvard Kennedy School ’s Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government . Learn more by reading director Robert Stavins' welcome message .

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Recent publications.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act authorized and appropriated unprecedented spending and tax expenditures to decarbonize the American economy. In the spirit of “build back better,” this paper examines how integrating evaluation in the design and implementation of these new clean energy policies can facilitate the learning necessary for policymakers to make policy better over time. It draws lessons from two case studies: (1) on institutionalizing evaluation based on the experience with regulatory review, and (2) on conducting evaluation based on the research literature assessing the 2009 Recovery Act’s clean energy programs. The paper identifies in recent legislation the programs and their characteristics amenable to various evaluation methodologies. The paper closes with recommendations for a clean energy program evaluation framework that would enable implementation of climate-oriented learning agendas under the Evidence-Based Policymaking Act.

Keywords: program evaluation, learning agendas, renewable energy, energy efficiency

News from the Harvard Project on Climate Agreements

Hpca conversations on climate change and energy policy.

The Harvard Project on Climate Agreements is conducting a series of virtual forums addressing key issues in climate-change and related energy policy. Each forum will feature an expert guest and will be moderated by Robert Stavins, Director of the Harvard Project. 

We hope you can join us!

Next Scheduled Event: 

To access recordings and transcripts of past events, please go to the HPCA Conversations Series webpage.

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Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

College of the environment and life sciences, environmental and natural resource economics ph.d..

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There is a strong demand for our Ph.D. graduates both in the private and public sector. These jobs range from positions in academia, in government agencies concerned with resource management, in some of the nation’s best private consulting firms concerned with environmental issues, in industries harvesting our natural resource stocks, and in non-governmental organizations.

You’ll work with faculty members who are well-known for their research in environmental and resource, including marine and terrestrial resource management, marketing, and ecosystem services. There is a special focus on fisheries management, marine pollution, water quality, renewable energy, and other resource use issues in the coastal zone.

Graduate Program Director:  [email protected] Graduate Admissions:  [email protected]

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Energy & Environment Economics PhD Field

The Department of Economics and Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago will start offering three new PhD courses on Energy and Environmental Economics in academic year 2016-17. Energy and Environmental Economics (EEE) is a growing research field, owing to increasing interest in the area among researchers and policymakers. This increasing interest is creating strong demand for faculty among leading economics departments, policy schools, and business schools. In academic year 2016-2017, these three new courses can be combined to form a field in Public, Energy, and Environmental Economics. In subsequent years, EEE will be a standalone field, making the University of Chicago the first top economics department to offer a EEE PhD course sequence. This will be accomplished by leveraging faculty expertise in both the economics department and Harris. The course descriptions are below.

The EEE PhD field courses are open to University of Chicago PhD students who have completed the first year of PhD coursework in the Department of Economics, the Harris School of Public Policy, or the Booth School of Business. Students enrolled in other graduate programs at the University of Chicago who have suitable technical backgrounds may also enroll in these courses with the permission of the instructor.

Energy and Environmental Economics I (PPHA 44320/Econ 36730)

This course will emphasize the economics of natural resource production and problems associated with externalities and common property, with a focus on the energy sector. Most lectures will be theoretical in nature, but we will spend considerable time studying applications that have an empirical component. The course has several complementary objectives: (1) provide a solid foundation in concepts like Hotelling’s Rule and Pigouvian taxation that are a prerequisite for understanding modern environmental and resource economics; (2) develop proficiency with theoretical, computational, and empirical tools that will be valuable for future self-directed research; and (3) gain experience in reading, presenting, and discussing modern research in energy and environmental economics.

Energy and Environmental Economics II (PPHA 44330)

This course will cover the theory and evidence on regulatory, tax, and other government responses to problems of market failure. Special emphasis will be given to developing and implementing tools to evaluate the costs and benefits of energy and environmental policies. Other topics will include techniques for measurement of willingness to pay for non-market goods; the economics of climate change; the intersection of Energy and Environmental Economics with development economics; cost-benefit analysis, including discounting; the value of a statistical life; health as human capital; and the economics of energy efficiency.

Energy and Environmental Economics III (PPHA 44340)

Optimal environmental regulation requires an analysis of the trade-offs between market and regulatory imperfections. Market allocations are inefficient in the presence of imperfections such as externalities, market power, and informational asymmetries. On the other hand, government intervention to mitigate these imperfections is not costless, and can even make market performance worse. This course focuses on recent empirical analysis of the costs and benefits of environmental and energy policies, including an introduction to the relevant econometric methodologies such as randomized controlled trials, regression discontinuity designs, bunching analysis, and structural estimation. Topics will include: energy demand and the energy efficiency gap, fuel economy and appliance efficiency standards, non-linear and real-time electricity pricing, wholesale electricity markets, renewable electricity policies, natural gas markets, retail gasoline markets, and technology innovations.

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University Program in Environmental Policy (UPEP)

Identifying policy solutions to environmental challenges requires a command of social sciences, alongside topical knowledge and understanding of relevant policy processes. Duke's University Program in Environmental Policy (UPEP) PhD is a 5-year program for intense research training, combining disciplinary specialization − in economics or political science − with an emphasis on understanding policy settings and the precise nature of the problem we hope to solve with policy. That requires integrating multiple perspectives to frame useful applications of disciplinary rigor.

Our students and faculty conduct world-class research, in domestic and international contexts, on a wide array of topics in environmental economics, policy, and politics. Graduate placements have included academic positions in disciplinary departments, interdisciplinary units, and professional schools and professional positions in domestic and international public agencies, environmental organizations, research institutes, and consulting firms.

The UPEP PhD program is jointly administered by the Nicholas School of the Environment and the Sanford School of Public Policy. It draws on the extensive resources of both schools, as well as numerous departments and research institutes across Duke University. UPEP students work in close proximity to PhD students in other disciplines, within each School as well as across Duke. We have close affiliations with the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability and the Duke Global Health Institute .

UPEP builds on a long history of Duke University engagement with environmental policy issues. The predecessors of the Nicholas School—the School of Forestry, the Marine Lab, and the Department of Geology—were founded in the 1930s. The Sanford School of Public Policy traces its history to the formation of Duke’s Institute of Policy Sciences and Public Affairs in 1971. Both schools have offered environment-focused PhD training for many years. In 2010, UPEP was created to bring together groups engaged in social science research and training for environmental policy.

Applying to UPEP

UPEP applicants should apply directly to the  Duke Graduate School . All doctoral students must enter the program in the fall.

We welcome applicants from diverse academic, cultural, socioeconomic, and professional backgrounds. Approximately 3-5 students are projected to enter the program each fall, for a total of 20-25 students enrolled at any given time.

Admissions Requirements

Admission to the program is extremely competitive, with less than 10 percent of applicants typically offered admission. Applicants should have a record of high academic achievement and the potential to become leading researchers on environmental policy issues. Although the program’s admissions committee evaluates applicants from a comprehensive standpoint, successful applicants will likely have:

• High GPA scores.
• Personalized letters of recommendation that attest to the applicant’s scholarly ability.
• Research interests that overlap those of one or more UPEP faculty members.
• Applicants should clearly specify the preferred concentration in the personal statement. Adequate preparation for PhD-level training in either economics or political science is an important consideration in admissions. 

Matching with Faculty

UPEP conducts program-level admissions review to evaluate applicants’ backgrounds and interests and find matches with potential advisors. Applicants may contact faculty members individually, but it is not necessary to secure an advising commitment in advance in order to be accepted into the program.

To identify faculty members with research interests similar to yours, consult the active UPEP advisor list in the UPEP Handbook and explore the  Nicholas School Faculty Database  and the  Sanford School Faculty Directory .

Other Areas of Study

Candidates should have a strong interest in either the economic or political aspects of environmental studies . If you are primarily interested in other areas, consider the following doctoral programs instead:

• If you are interested primarily in natural science aspects of the environment, consider applying to the Nicholas School’s  PhD program in Environment ,  PhD program in Earth and Ocean Sciences , or  PhD program in Ecology . 
• If you are interested in studying marine resource issues from social science perspectives other than economics or political science, consider applying to the Nicholas School’s  PhD program in Marine Science and Conservation .
• If you are interested in an applied social science degree without a specific focus on the environment, consider applying to the Sanford School’s PhD program in Public Policy Studies .

Faculty Who Advise UPEP Students

Nicholas faculty.

• Elizabeth Albright
• Lori Bennear
• Brian Murray
• Marty Smith
• Jeff Vincent 
• Erika Weinthal

Sanford Faculty

• Sarah Bermeo
• Sara Sutherland
• Marc Jeuland
• Robyn Meeks
• Subhrendu Pattanayak
• Alexander Pfaff

PhD Students in UPEP

Current students.

Savannah Carr-Wilson

Maya Chandrasekaran

Xingchen Chen

Alex Diaz Herrera

Ryan McCord

Dylan Munson

Gabriela Nagle Alverio

Chrissie Pantoja Vallejos

Matthew Reale-Hatem

Paula Sarmiento

Zhenxuan Wang

Ben Weintraut

Updated 10/2023

UPEP fosters interaction among students, Duke faculty, faculty at neighboring universities (in particular North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), and visiting researchers by co-sponsoring two seminar series that meet regularly during the academic year: 

• Environmental Institutions Seminar Series (held at Duke). 
• Triangle Resource and Environmental Economics Seminar Series  (held at Research Triangle Institute). 

UPEP runs its own internal biweekly seminar in which mostly students present to the other students and faculty.

Students also participate in numerous other seminars sponsored by the Nicholas School, the Sanford School, the Departments of Economics and Political Science, and other schools, departments, institutes, and centers at Duke and area universities.

Institutes & Centers

Students in the program interact with researchers at several institutes and centers at Duke, including: 

• Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability
• Duke Global Health Institute
• Social Science Research Institute
• Duke Center for International Development

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find our responses to the most common questions asked by prospective applicants.  

General Questions

What is the difference between UPEP and other PhD programs in the Nicholas and Sanford schools at Duke?

UPEP is intended for individuals who are interested in conducting PhD studies in environmental policy with an emphasis on economics or political science, under the supervision of Duke University faculty members who have primary appointments in the Nicholas or Sanford schools. 

Other PhD programs at Duke are probably more appropriate for you if you are interested in natural science aspects of the environment, purely disciplinary programs in economics or political science, fields of public policy other than environmental policy, or studying marine resource issues from perspectives other than economics or political science. 

If you are still not sure which program to apply to, please contact the faculty members whose research interests you and ask them which programs admit students that they can supervise.

What kinds of careers does UPEP prepare students for?

A variety of organizations hire individuals with PhDs in environmental policy, including universities, research institutes, government agencies, private-sector consulting firms, and NGOs.  

Is UPEP an interdisciplinary program?

UPEP is interdisciplinary in the sense of requiring students to learn about two important dimensions of environmental policy—economics and politics—and encouraging them to develop a basic understanding of natural science aspects of the issues that interest them.  It emphasizes, however, the development of disciplinary expertise in either economics or political science as applied to environmental policy issues.

What kind of financial aid will I receive if I am admitted?

Details will be provided in your offer letter.

Can you send me a brochure on UPEP?

All information on UPEP is web-based.  Please contact the UPEP Director of Graduate Studies Assistant (DGSA,  [email protected] ) if you are unable to find the information you are seeking on this website.

Does Duke have a Master’s program in Environmental Policy?

Duke has a Master of Environmental Management (MEM) program, which is administered by the Nicholas School and includes an Environmental Economics and Policy concentration , and a Master of Public Policy (MPP) program, which is administered by the Sanford School.

Does Duke have a joint JD/PhD program in environmental policy?

You can earn both a JD and an Environmental Policy PhD from Duke in the following way.  Begin by applying to the three-year JD/MA program, with the MA in either Environmental Science and Policy (through the Nicholas School) or Public Policy Studies (through the Sanford School).  Please contact the Duke Law School for more information on the JD/MA program.  In the final year of the JD/MA program, apply to UPEP like any other applicant.  Depending on the courses taken during the JD/MA program, the number of additional years required to complete the UPEP PhD might be reduced from 5 years to 4 years, but probably not by more. 

Program Requirements

How long does the program take to complete?

Typically 5 years.  You can see illustrative timelines for the environmental economics and environmental politics concentrations in the UPEP Student Handbook .

Are economics and political science the only concentrations under UPEP?

Currently, yes.  

Do I need to decide on my concentration (economics or concentration) when I apply?

Yes.  You should state your intended concentration in your application.  Applicants who are unsure about their concentration will not be admitted.

What are the requirements of each concentration?

Please see the UPEP Student Handbook for program and curriculum details.

Do I need to identify a prospective advisor before I apply?

No, but your chances of admission will increase if your application indicates that you have identified one or more faculty members in the Nicholas or Sanford schools whose research interests are similar to yours.  You are welcome to communicate with faculty members before you apply, but please note that they cannot tell you whether you will be admitted.  Admission decisions are made by the Duke Graduate School, as advised by the UPEP admissions committee, not by individual faculty members.

How do I identify faculty members who might be interested in advising me if I am admitted?

Please see the “UPEP Faculty” listed above.

Will I be assigned an advisor if I am admitted?

Yes.  You will be assigned an advisor when you are admitted.  Your advisor will likely be a faculty member that you have mentioned in your application.  Another faculty member will be assigned, however, if none of the faculty members that you mention is available or if another faculty member is deemed to be a more suitable advisor for you.  Assigning an advisor at this early point in the program ensures that you will have a faculty member who will take responsibility for advising you on course selection, discussing your research interests, assisting you in obtaining grants and fellowships, and in other ways helping you complete the program successfully.

Can I change my advisor?

Yes.  Students interested in changing advisors should contact the UPEP Director of Graduate Studies.

Can I work with only my advisor as a teaching assistant (TA), a research assistant (RA), or on my dissertation research?

No.  TA assignments are made independently of advisor assignments, although you will likely serve as a TA for your advisor at least once.  RAships depend on funding availability.  You can serve as an RA for either your advisor or another faculty member.  UPEP students form dissertation committees consistent with Duke Graduate School rules, and members of the committee other than your advisor often play a large role in supervising aspects of the research.

Admissions Process

How do I apply to UPEP?

You apply through the Duke Graduate School. 

When is my application due?

The application deadline is posted on the Duke Graduate School website .  Late applications are generally not considered.

Can I enter the program during the spring semester instead of the fall semester?

No.  All students must enter during the fall semester.

Do I need to visit Duke before I apply?

No.  If you are interested in visiting, please contact the faculty members whose research most interests you and arrange a time to visit when they are available.  You will be responsible for making and paying for your own travel arrangements.  If you are admitted to UPEP, then you and other admitted students will be invited to visit Duke in mid-March, with the costs of that visit being covered by Duke up to a budgeted amount.

How are admission decisions made?

UPEP has an admissions committee, which meets in early January to review all of the complete applications submitted to Duke Graduate School.  Incomplete applications are not reviewed.  Based on the admission committee’s findings, the UPEP Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) provides recommendations to the Duke Graduate School as to which students should be admitted.  The Graduate School makes the official admission decisions.

When will I find out if I have been admitted?

Typically by the middle of February.

When must I decide whether to accept Duke’s offer of admission?

This information will be in your offer letter.  The date is typically in mid-April.

If I am admitted to the program, can I defer admission?

Ordinarily no, but deferrals may sometimes be granted for medical reasons.

Will I automatically be considered for other PhD programs at Duke or for a Master’s program if I am not admitted to UPEP?

No. Your application to UPEP is only for UPEP.

If I am not admitted to UPEP, should I enter another program and then apply for a transfer to UPEP?

You are welcome to do this, but there is no guarantee that it will increase your chances of admission.  You will be required to reapply through the normal process, and your application will be reviewed with along with those from first-time applicants.

I applied to the program last year but was not admitted. I would like to reapply. Can Duke transfer my scores, transcripts, and other materials to this year’s application?

No. You must submit a new application.

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University of California, Santa Barbara

Become a leader in solving environmental problems through interdisciplinary research

Phd in environmental science and management.

Bren’s PhD in Environmental Science and Management is a doctoral program designed to develop the broad knowledge, analytical powers, technical skills, and innovative thinking required to be a leader in your field.

As a Bren doctoral student you have the opportunity to engage in research that crosses disciplines, and to take courses at the Bren School or in other renowned UCSB departments, such as geography, ecology, earth science, economics, political science, and marine biology. Choose from a research track in either Natural Sciences or Engineering, or in Social Sciences.

As a student in the Bren PhD program, you'll benefit from the school’s superb facilities, smaller size, close faculty mentorship, academic excellence, and opportunities to work across disciplines.

The Bren PhD program is mentorship-based; you will work closely with at least one Bren professor in their area of expertise. Your sponsor serves as your student advisor and the chair of your PhD committee. This faculty sponsor is also responsible for providing intellectual support and academic and career advice, as well as assisting you to obtain financial support from Graduate Student Researcher positions, Teaching Assistant positions, fellowships, and other areas of support.

The PhD program is intended to be full-time and courses are offered at the UC Santa Barbara campus. Currently, the Bren School does not offer any online degree options. 

Your future as a leader in solving environmental problems begins with being prepared for admission to the PhD in Environmental Science and Management at the Bren School. The admissions team is here to answer your questions about eligibility, the application process, research, faculty sponsorship, and how to choose your path in a PhD program in environmental science and management.

The Bren PhD program academic requirements are highly individualized for your mentorship-based experience. The PhD in Environmental Science and Management is a research degree awarded upon demonstration of academic excellence and performance of original research. There is no specific unit requirement, though there are required interdisciplinary seminar courses that enrich your experience and help you complete research with integrity. For students also completing an optional PhD emphasis or certificate, additional requirements and coursework may apply.

PhD Emphases & Certificates

Enhance your PhD experience by adding an optional PhD emphasis and/or certificate. Students have several opportunities for: 

Climate Science and Climate Change

Develop a broader understanding of the physical principles governing climate on Earth, climate changes associated with natural variability and anthropogenic forcings, and the impacts of climate change on the environment and society.

Economics and Environmental Science

Acquire a deep and expert knowledge of economics and the complex connections between the environment and economics.

Environment and Society

Receive additional training and mentorship in interdisciplinary studies such as global political economics, social justice, environmental politics, and population ecology.

Information Technology and Society

Explore further themes of the societal implications of information technology, including studies in media, science education and instruction, and data visualization.

Management Practice

Gain an in-depth understanding of entrepreneurial, business, and management practices in global technology-based companies.

PhD Research

The work of Bren PhD students is a balance of research and application to both understand and solve complex environmental problems. In pursuit of their passion in environmental science and management, Bren doctoral students are taking on environmental challenges in a range of topics, including climate change impacts, aquaculture and sustainable fisheries, wildlife conservation, coral reef resilience, fate and transport modeling, life cycle assessment, environmental politics, nanomaterials and micropollution, renewable energy resources, deforestation, and so much more. 

Gain inspiration for your research topic from Bren's current PhD research projects and archive of dissertation titles. 

Career Development

Whether you’re looking to apply your PhD to an academic or non-academic career path, we’re here to connect you to the advising, resources, and contacts you need to learn relevant job search skills and put your expertise to practice via real-world impacts. In addition to individualized, field-specific career guidance from your faculty advisor(s), as a Bren doctoral student, you’ll have access to supplemental career support from our highly celebrated Career Development team as well as the dedicated career and professional development staff at UCSB’s Graduate Student Resource Center . 

Bren PhD alumni have gone on to successful positions as scientists, faculty members, researchers, managers, fellows, technical officers, and more within a variety of settings, including universities, corporations, think tanks, research institutes, consulting firms, and government agencies across the U.S. and globe. 

Alumni Network Access and 24/7 Career Resources

From your first day at Bren, you’ll have access to BrenConnect, Bren’s unique career resources and alumni networking platform, where you can peruse fresh job listings, find and connect with Bren alumni, and access Bren-specific career guidance articles. Want to talk to a Bren grad who works at your dream organization? More than 75% of alumni are BrenConnect users.

Career Programming and 1-on-1 Guidance for Your Unique Career Journey

During your time at Bren, you’ll enjoy open access to the 40+ career workshops, speakers, and events hosted by the Career Development Team for Bren master’s students each year, allowing you to pick what and when to attend based on your needs and graduation timeline. To provide further guidance to doctoral students, the Career Development Team also hosts 1-2 PhD-specific workshops each year and partners with UCSB’s Graduate Student Resource Center (GSRC), which provides a full suite of additional workshops. These sessions cover academic and non-academic career topics, from how to write a teaching statement for faculty applications to how to leverage LinkedIn for a non-academic job search. In addition to individual guidance from your faculty advisor(s), both the Bren and GSRC career staff are available for one-on-one career advising on topics such as applying, interviewing, negotiating, and more.

This is a graduate school experience like no other where you'll have access to faculty mentors, potential employers, internship opportunities, and a professional network of alumni from day one. The Bren grad school experience has been designed to open doors for students to make a difference in the world. Our students often say they make friends and colleagues for life during their time at Bren.

PhD Symposium

PhD students at Bren organize and host an annual PhD Symposium in winter quarter, an event where PhD students give flash talks and present their research via a poster session to the campus community and general public. Students will also find opportunities to volunteer as part of the annual symposium committee.

PhD Retreat

Each year, Bren PhD students, faculty, and staff organize a retreat to welcome new students to the PhD program. The location of the retreat varies year to year and has been held in inspiring locations in nature, such as Yosemite and the California coast.

Are you ready to solve environmental problems?

Request more information, get to know the Bren School, and start planning your application today.

College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics

Environmental and resource economics.

The Environmental and Resource Economics (ERE) field develops student expertise in economic theory and empirical methods for analyzing problems in environmental and natural resource economics. Relevant methods include dynamic optimization and simulation analysis, non-market valuation techniques, hedonic pricing, location theory, and policy evaluation under uncertainty. Learning these methods enables students to understand and study why certain markets fail to provide environmental and resource services efficiently, how formal and informal institutions can be constructed to promote more efficient provisioning of these services, and how to measure the associated economic gains and losses. Students also acquire advanced knowledge of a range of historical and contemporary environmental and natural resource problems and policies.

Faculty working in the ERE field have expertise in the economics of land use, water resources, energy, ecosystem management, non-market valuation, property rights, resource dynamics, and policy design to achieve environmental objectives. Faculty in the field collaborate extensively with graduate students and those working in other fields across the Department, as well as with researchers from other disciplines. 

ERE research programs cover a broad range of topics including water quality, economic sustainability, bioenergy economics and policy, prevention and control of invasive species, infectious disease in wildlife systems, corporate environmental management, recreational demand modeling, the design and analysis of economic incentives to achieve public policy objectives, and improvements in theory and empirical methods.

Course Programs

Ph.D. students with a major field in ERE take three required courses: 

• AFRE 823 Environmental Economics Methods
• AFRE 923 Advanced Environmental Economics
• AFRE 925 Advanced Natural Resource Economics 

Ph.D. students can also choose from a range of other courses, both in and outside the Department, to support their ERE interests and meet other program course requirements. 

Master's students with an interest in environmental and resource economics put together a suitable course program in consultation with their major professor and guidance committee.

The ERE course program also links to an  interdepartmental graduate specialization in environmental and resource economics  directed by economists from across the college. By fulfilling the requirements of this specialization, which involves little if any additional coursework beyond that required for their Department degrees, students can receive a formal transcript certification indicating that a graduate specialization in environmental and resource economics has been accomplished. The specialization is available at the Master's and Ph.D. levels ( https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/Programs.aspx?PType=SPCG&Sort=Department ).

Ph.D. students can also achieve a dual major in AFRE and Environmental Science and Policy (ESPP) . For more information on the ESPP dual major, see https://environment.msu.edu/education/dualmajor.html .

ERE students interested in regional economic issues can build a program in that area by following the recommendations for specializing in  Regional Economics and State and Local Government Policy . 

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Environmental, Resource and Energy Economics

Hunt Allcott

Lawrence H. Goulder

Rosamond L. Naylor

David a. starrett.

Frank Wolak

Ph.D. in Environmental Policy

General info.

• Faculty working with students: 31
• Students: 13
• Students receiving Financial Aid: 100%
• Part time study available: No
• Application terms: Fall
• Application deadline: December 14

Erika Weinthal Director of Graduate Studies University Program in Environmental Policy Duke University Box 90328 Durham, NC 27708-0328 Phone: (919) 613-8002

Email:  [email protected]

Website: https://nicholas.duke.edu/academics/doctoral-degrees

Program Description

The University Program in Environmental Policy (UPEP) is a multidisciplinary, research-focused five-year doctoral degree, intended to prepare candidates for positions in applied academic departments and professional schools (e.g., environment and natural resources, public policy, public administration, international affairs), domestic and international public agencies and environmental organizations, research institutes, and policy consulting firms.  Although the program is multidisciplinary, it is designed to ensure that students have strength in a particular social science discipline.  Students designate their concentration when applying and currently may select either environmental economics or environmental politics.

Students interested in doctoral studies at Duke can also study the environment from a social science perspective through the disciplinary PhD program in Economics and PhD program in Political Science, and the interdisciplinary PhD program in Marine Science and Conservation.  Students interested in an applied social science degree without a specific focus on the environment should apply to the PhD program in Public Policy Studies.  Students interested in natural science aspects of the environment should consider the PhD program in Environment, PhD program in Earth and Ocean Sciences, PhD program in Marine Science and Conservation, and PhD program in Ecology.

UPEP is the first and only PhD program in the United States jointly administered by a school of the environment and a school of public policy.  It provides a focal point for faculty and graduate students in the Nicholas School of the Environment and the Sanford School of Public Policy who are interested in environmental policy.  It draws on the intellectual resources of not only the two schools but also related disciplinary departments (Economics, Political Science) and other professional schools (Law School, Fuqua School, Pratt School of Engineering) at Duke.  Faculty in the program conduct research on economic and political aspects of a wide range of topics, including air and water quality, biodiversity conservation, climate change, community resources management, corporate sustainability, ecosystem services, energy, environmental health, fisheries, forests, freshwater, and marine resources, in both U.S. and international contexts.  Applicants are encouraged to contact faculty members with related interests to learn more about their current research projects and interest in accepting new doctoral students.

Students in the program:

• A set of common requirements, including courses in the political-economic theory of public policy (PUBPOL 901/902, 6 credits), a series of research workshops leading to the dissertation proposal (ENV 834S, 4.5 credits), and at least one course in environmental/resource economics (3+ credits).
• Disciplinary concentration requirements, including core theory (6+ credits) and research methods (6+ credits) in economics or political science, and corresponding environmental field courses (i.e., environmental economics or environmental politics; (6 credits).
• As needed, appropriate training in natural sciences relevant to the student's research.  The level and content of such training is flexible and is worked out in consultation with the student's advisor and committee.
• Regularly attend and participate in one or more research seminars in which faculty and others present their research.
• Attain dissertation status, including meeting qualifying requirements and passing the preliminary exam, by the end of the third year.
• Pass a final examination, which consists of an oral dissertation defense to an approved supervisory committee.  This is typically completed by the end of the fifth year.  A successful Environmental Policy PhD dissertation must constitute a significant contribution to policy-relevant knowledge, either through innovative application of social science methods to environmental policy problems, or by innovation in theory or methods appropriate for addressing environmental policy problems.

Students normally receive a stipend and a scholarship to cover tuition and fees for up to five years of study if they maintain satisfactory progress toward their degree.  Support during the first 2-3 years is usually in return for service as a teaching assistant, with support during the remainder of the program expected to come from research grants managed by a student's major professor.  Some students also compete successfully for fellowships offered by the Graduate School and other sources at Duke.  Applicants are encouraged to explore external sources of fellowship support (e.g., National Science Foundation) during the application process.

Students in the program can interact with researchers at several centers and institutes at Duke University including the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, the Center on Global Change, the Duke Global Health Institute, the Social Science Research Institute, the Duke Center for International Development, and the Triangle Census Research Data Center.  They can also interact with visiting researchers through two research seminar series supported by UPEP--the Environmental Institutions Seminar Series held at Duke and the regional Triangle Resource and Environmental Economics Seminar Series organized by Duke, North Carolina State University, UNC Chapel Hill, and Research Triangle Institute, along with numerous other seminar series in the Nicholas School, the Sanford School, the Departments of Economics and Political Science, and other Duke schools, departments, institutes, and centers.

• Environmental Policy: PhD Admissions and Enrollment Statistics
• Environmental Policy: PhD Completion Rate Statistics
• Environmental Policy: PhD Time to Degree Statistics
• Environmental Policy: PhD Career Outcomes Statistics

Application Information

Application Terms Available:  Fall

Application Deadline:  December 14

Graduate School Application Requirements See the Application Instructions page for important details about each Graduate School requirement.

• Transcripts: Unofficial transcripts required with application submission; official transcripts required upon admission
• Letters of Recommendation: 3 Required
• Statement of Purpose: Required
• Résumé: Required
• GRE Scores: GRE General (Optional)
• English Language Exam: TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test required* for applicants whose first language is not English *test waiver may apply for some applicants
• GPA: Undergraduate GPA calculated on 4.0 scale required

Writing Sample None required

Additional Requirements: On no more than one page, please briefly highlight the following:

• Your academic preparation and/or professional experience in quantitative methods and skills (e.g. math, statistics, epidemiology). Provide a bulleted list of relevant academic coursework with final grades, and any relevant research projects, extracurricular engagement, experience with software, and/or professional responsibilities
• Your academic and/or professional writing experiences, as evidenced through research papers, an undergraduate thesis, scientific writing courses, or professional writing.

We strongly encourage you to review additional department-specific application guidance from the program to which you are applying: Departmental Application Guidance

List of Graduate School Programs and Degrees

100 Best colleges for Environmental Economics in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Environmental Economics. A graph of 1.36M citations received by 47.1K academic papers made by 184 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of California - Berkeley

For Environmental Economics

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

3. Carnegie Mellon University

4. Stanford University

5. University of California - Davis

6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

7. Harvard University

8. University of Florida

9. Arizona State University - Tempe

10. University of Texas at Austin

11. Georgia Institute of Technology

12. Ohio State University

13. Pennsylvania State University

14. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

15. Yale University

16. Cornell University

17. University of Maryland - College Park

18. Texas A&M University - College Station

19. University of Pennsylvania

20. Iowa State University

21. University of Delaware

22. Michigan State University

23. Columbia University

24. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

25. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

26. Duke University

27. University of Washington - Seattle

28. Purdue University

29. New York University

30. University of Colorado Boulder

31. University of Wisconsin - Madison

32. Princeton University

33. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

34. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

35. Oregon State University

36. Michigan Technological University

37. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

38. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

39. Rochester Institute of Technology

40. Colorado School of Mines

41. University of Central Florida

42. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

43. University of California - Santa Barbara

44. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

45. Clemson University

46. University of California - Irvine

47. University of Arizona

48. Boston University

49. University of California - Los Angeles

50. Johns Hopkins University

51. University of Georgia

52. University of California - Riverside

53. University of Pittsburgh

54. University of Vermont

55. California Institute of Technology

56. Portland State University

57. University of Illinois at Chicago

58. University of Southern California

59. Missouri University of Science and Technology

60. University of Chicago

61. Syracuse University

62. Washington State University

63. Vanderbilt University

64. University of Virginia

65. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

66. Northwestern University

67. University of California-San Diego

68. Case Western Reserve University

69. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

70. George Mason University

71. Illinois Institute of Technology

72. University of Miami

73. University of Kentucky

74. John F. Kennedy University

75. University of Connecticut

76. Southern Methodist University

77. Mississippi State University

78. Northeastern University

79. George Washington University

80. University of South Florida

81. University of New Mexico

82. Boston College

83. University of Wyoming

84. Oklahoma State University

85. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

86. Tufts University

87. University of Hawaii at Manoa

88. Rice University

89. Clark University

90. Georgia State University

91. University of Missouri - Columbia

92. University of Toledo

93. Texas Tech University

94. West Virginia University

95. Florida International University

96. University of Utah

97. University of Nevada - Reno

98. University of Oklahoma - Norman

99. San Diego State University

100. North Dakota State University

The best cities to study Environmental Economics in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Berkeley , Cambridge , Pittsburgh , and Stanford .

Economics subfields in the United States

Environmental Economics Degree

Jump to section.

• Why Environmental Economy?
• Bachelor's Degrees in Environmental Economy
• Certificate Programs in Environmental Economy
• Master's Environmental Economy Degrees
• Doctoral Level Environmental Economy Programs
• Job in Environmental Economy
• Search For Schools

Why an Environmental Economics Degree?

Environmental economics is an area of economics dealing with the relationship between the economy, the earth's systems, and its limited resource base. Economic systems exist within the confines of the closed earth system. Rather than considering economic systems in isolation, environmental economics studies economics within the larger context of what we know about the world from science and other disciplines.

Environmental economists research the economics of resource use, perform cost-benefit analyses of environmental regulations and other pollution control measures, and assess new fuels and emerging environmental markets. They attempt to assign value to “ecosystem services” such as natural water and air filtration.

Environmental Economics Undergraduate Programs

Undergraduate study is usually just a starting point for economists. While some government positions are available to workers with bachelor's degrees, most positions required advanced degrees. Coursework is largely quantitative, focusing on math and statistics. Students also learn how to use computer software to create economic models. They may also study environmental law and policy . Taking physical and life science courses is also recommended. Seeking out internships and volunteer opportunities that provide practical experience will also be advantageous when it comes to employment.

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) lists 11 undergraduate programs in this field, though this number only includes programs at AASHE member institutions. Keep in mind that program names can vary; Environmental Economics and Policy, Environmental Economics & Management, Environmental and Resource Economics, Natural Resource Economics, or Ecological Economics are a few equivalent degree programs with different names.

In addition, a few schools, such as UC Berkeley and Ohio State University, offer minors. Some generalized undergraduate programs in economics also offer elective courses in environmental economics.

School Spotlight

University of California, Berkeley's major in Environmental Economics and Policy (EEP) focuses on the market forces shaping the use of renewable and non-renewable resources, and how policy and law affects them. This interdisciplinary program is offered by both the College of Natural Resources (BS) and the College of Letters and Science (BA). Berkeley's program is based on micro-economic theory. Colorado State University's Environmental and Natural Resource Economics degree provides a strong basis in applied economic tools, data gathering, and analysis. To further their interdisciplinary studies and obtain a fuller understanding of the interactions between science and social science, students can pursue a double-major by adding a major in Natural Resource Management from the Warner College of Natural Resources.

Graduate Certificates in Environmental Economy

A graduate certificate in environmental economics can be an excellent choice for those wanting to further their careers by expanding their credentials. It's particularly useful for professionals in adjacent areas, such as environmental science , environmental engineering , environmental biology , or architecture who would like to move into different roles or managerial positions.

However, only a handful of schools currently offer graduate certificates in this area. The University of Vermont's Graduate Certificate in Ecological Economics teaches students how to integrate economics within the context of the world's ecosystems and resource base from both theoretical and pragmatic perspectives. Students must demonstrate competency in natural science, social science, management and quantitative methods. Competency in two of these areas must be demonstrated for admission to the certification program, either through prior graduate coursework or life experience. Provisional admission is also possible.

Master's Degrees in Environmental Economics

Graduate-level study is often required for careers in environmental economics. It generally involves a greater focus on applied economics, including quantitative research and analytics. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the programs, the coursework involved can vary considerably. Some programs focus mainly on the social science aspects of economics such as policy and law, while other programs focus on physical and life sciences. In general, aspiring students from scientific fields, or those who wish to enter scientific fields, should seek out programs offered by scientific departments, while those more interested in law and policy should seek out programs offered by departments of economics.

Duke University's Environmental Sciences & Policy program combines the physical, biological, and social sciences to study how natural resource policy affects the economic choices of individuals and businesses, and how they in turn affect resource consumption and the environment. It's a highly analytical program that's international in scope. The University of Rhode Island's graduate program in Environmental & Natural Resource Economics focuses on coastal and marine resource development and management. For example, courses and faculty study the ecosystem services these resources provide, as well as how economic activity and policies affect water quality and pollution.

Doctoral Programs in Environmental Economics

The majority of environmental and other economists hold doctoral degrees. Since economics is a largely research-based profession doctoral degrees are necessary for many jobs. While the number of institutions offering Ph.D. programs specifically in environmental economics is fairly low, some universities offer doctoral programs in economics or related areas, with an emphasis or concentration in environmental or ecological economics. The London School of Economics is also an excellent international choice. These doctoral programs involve advanced quantitative work, independent research, and a dissertation.

The University of Vermont is also an excellent place to pursue a doctoral degree. Students can apply for a fellowship at the Gund Institute for Ecological Economics, an interdisciplinary research center. Students can collaborate with faculty from a range of schools, gaining valuable research experience and variety of perspectives. To study at the Gund, students must first apply to a related school, such as the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. Applicants should mention their interest in the Gund PhD Assistantship, along with any faculty they've already been in touch with. The school's faculty will nominate candidates for the Gund Assistantship. Students receive degrees in the home departments of their advisors. The Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara offers a Ph.D. program with an emphasis on economics and environmental science (EES). Depending on background and career goals, students are enrolled as doctoral candidates in either the Department of Economics or the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management. Students start our their programs with core work in microeconomics and econometrics in their home schools, then move on the EES portion in the second year. UCSB's program provides a solid foundation in both the scientific and economic aspects of the discipline.

Employment as an Environmental Economist

Environmental economists can earn a comfortable salary; the median salary for all economists was $108,350 in 2020. Most environmental economists currently work in federal or state government. While these positions are expected to decline, overall employment of economists is projected to grow 13% from 2020 to 2030. Some environmental consulting firms are hiring economists to estimate and minimize project costs. They may also work as project managers for consultancies and environmental nonprofits.

2020 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures and job growth projections for Economists reflect national data not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed September 2021.

Core Skills You'll Develop While Studying Environmental Economics

• Writing: Since economists routinely write reports they must learn how to speak and write well.
• Critical Thinking: Economists learn logic and reasoning to identify and weigh the pros and cons of various approaches and solutions to economic issues.
• Judgment and Decision Making: Economist apply these skills to cost-benefit analyses and the construction of economic recommendations.
• Statistics and Quantitative Analysis: Economists also gain a strong background in statistics and quantitative analysis.

Learn more about a career as an Environmental Economist.

Doing Your PhD in Energy and Environmental Economics at Harris

If you are considering a PhD in energy and environmental economics, or if you are a professor advising such a student, we encourage you to consider a PhD in Public Policy from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Between the large (and still growing!) energy and environmental faculty group within Harris, related faculty in other units, and the intellectual hub provided by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago ( EPIC ), we believe that Harris is one of the very best places for PhD students to come study research problems at the intersection of energy and the environment, in both the developed and developing world.

The faculty group focused on energy and the environment has grown substantially in the past few years. At Harris, you will have the opportunity to take courses from and work with Fiona Burlig , Steve Cicala , Eyal Frank , Michael Greenstone , Koichiro Ito , Amir Jina , Ryan Kellogg , and Bob Rosner . We are currently on the market for yet more faculty in this area.

The total size of a Harris PhD cohort is modest—roughly 10 students per year total—so that admitted students receive a level of personal attention from faculty that is unusual for programs of this caliber. Beyond the core Harris energy faculty, students also have the opportunity to work with and learn from Harris’s deep bench of applied microeconomists and political economists, including faculty such as Oendrila Dube and Austin Wright who have studied the relationship between energy resources and conflict. Outside of Harris, our students can work with and learn from faculty in other units who work on energy and the environment, including Thom Covert , Elizabeth Moyer , Mark Templeton , and Bob Topel .

Like all Harris PhDs, students focusing on energy and the environment take a rigorous first-year course sequence on economics, econometrics, and political science. In their second year, students then take a three-quarter sequence on energy and environmental economics. This sequence is currently taught by Professors Greenstone, Kellogg, and Ito. These second-year courses are complemented by a suite of options for additional coursework in other economic subfields and in applied econometrics. Our students regularly enroll in PhD courses offered by the University of Chicago’s Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics.

New for 2018-2019, students will be able to apply for a traineeship program in Data Science for Energy and Environmental Research , funded by a $3 million grant from the NSF. This program is aimed at Harris PhD students who are particularly interested in learning frontier data science methods and applying these tools to interdisciplinary problems at the intersection of food, energy, water, and the environment. Harris PhD students who are admitted as trainees will receive two years of tuition and stipend support through this program. All Harris PhDs will have access to courses and workshops offered through this traineeship, which will include interdisciplinary offerings in data science and the geosciences.

Beyond formal classroom training, the rich seminar culture at Chicago offers many opportunities to see presentations of cutting-edge research. Options include the EPIC energy and environment lunch workshop , Harris public policy and economics workshop , Harris development lunch , Becker-Friedman workshop , and Booth applied economics workshop , among others. Students have opportunities to obtain feedback on their own work at both the EPIC lunch and the Harris Monday PhD workshop .

We encourage students from diverse backgrounds to apply. Our diverse faculty is a complementary resource that enables students to explore a wide range of research questions in energy and the environment. While we do expect our entering students to have a strong math background—multivariate calculus and statistical coursework are minima—do not let doubts about your technical training prevent you from applying. If we admit you, it’s because we think you’re smart enough to handle our technical PhD courses, and because we’re committed to providing the mathematical training you need.

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MIT’s Master of Applied Science in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy program adds a public policy track

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MIT’s Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and Department of Economics have announced an expansion of their jointly administered Master of Applied Science in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy (DEDP) program . This expansion adds a new public policy track to complement the existing international development track, opening up new avenues for student learning and research. 

Designed to tackle poverty alleviation and other pressing policy challenges in the United States and other high-income countries, the curriculum of the new track spans a diverse set of issues, from domestic concerns like minimum wage and consumer welfare to global matters including trade, climate change, and immigration. Applications for the public policy track will open this fall, with the inaugural cohort set to arrive on MIT’s campus in spring 2026.

The DEDP program, led by MIT professors and Nobel laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo, along with professors Sara Fisher Ellison and Benjamin Olken, was established with the mission of equipping diverse cohorts of talented professionals with the knowledge and skills to tackle poverty using evidence-based approaches. The new master’s degree track will support this mission while also underscoring the program’s commitment to addressing a broad array of critical challenges in the fight against poverty worldwide.

"The DEDP program has proven successful on many dimensions, and we are enthusiastic about leveraging its successes to address a broader set of social challenges,” says Ellison, a faculty lead for the program. “The public policy track will enable us to apply evidence-based methodology to poverty alleviation and other related issues in the context of high-income countries, as well. Given increasing levels of wealth and income inequality in these countries, we feel that the timing is opportune and the need is great."

The DEDP program distinguishes itself with an innovative admissions model that prioritizes demonstrated ability and motivation over traditional credentials, such as standardized tests and recommendation letters. To be eligible to apply to the master’s program, candidates must have earned a DEDP MicroMasters credential by passing five of the DEDP online courses. The courses are completely free to audit. Those who wish to earn a course certificate can pay a fee, which varies by the learner’s ability to pay, to take the proctored exam. While applications are reviewed holistically, performance in these classes is the primary factor in admissions decisions.

This approach democratizes access to higher education, enabling students from typically underrepresented backgrounds to demonstrate their potential for success. Notably, the program has welcomed many students from nontraditional backgrounds, such as a student who enrolled directly from high school (and who is now a second-year PhD student in economics at MIT), reflecting the ambition of its faculty directors to make higher education more accessible.

Sofia Martinez, a graduate of the class of 2023 and now co-founder of Learning Alliance , says, "Without the MicroMasters paving the way, applying to MIT or any similar institution would have been unthinkable for us. Initially, my aim in taking the online courses wasn't to pursue the residential program; it was only after witnessing my own progress that I realized the possibility wasn't so distant after all. This sentiment resonates with many in our cohort, which is truly humbling.”

Since its launch in 2020, the DEDP master’s program has conferred degrees to 87 students from 44 countries, showcasing its global reach and the success of its admissions model. Upon arriving on campus, students embark on an accelerated master's program. They complete a full course load in the spring, followed by a capstone project in the summer, applying the theoretical knowledge and practical skills gained through the program at research and policy organizations.

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2024 atlantic hurricane season: forecasting financial fallout.

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ATLANTIC OCEAN - Hurricane Lee crosses the Atlantic Ocean as it moves west on September 8, 2023. Lee ... [+] reached Category 5, but then weakened slightly to Category 4. (Photo by NOAA via Getty Images)

Meteorological experts are forecasting an unusually active Atlantic hurricane season for 2024, attributing this uptick in activity to warmer ocean temperatures and favorable atmospheric conditions. Such conditions not only increase the frequency of storms but also their intensity, posing heightened risks to life, property, and the environment.

The danger extends beyond the immediate physical threats, as these powerful storms can have profound and lasting economic impacts. As forecasters predict an unusually active Atlantic hurricane season for 2024, the anticipated increase in storm activity raises significant concerns about potential economic impacts. Heightened hurricane activity could affect insurance markets, building standards, homeowners, and the broader economy.

Increased Insurance Demand and Costs

The prediction of a more active hurricane season typically leads to a surge in insurance purchases. Homeowners in areas prone to hurricanes and other hazards should make a practice of reviewing and, where necessary, updating their coverage to mitigate potential losses. According to a financial expert quoted in Bankrate , "It’s crucial for homeowners to check their policies for adequate coverage before hurricane season ramps up." This heightened demand can lead to increased premiums, not just in hurricane-prone areas but potentially nationwide as insurers adjust to higher risk levels.

Impact On Building Codes And Construction

A more active hurricane season also prompts a reevaluation of building codes, especially in coastal regions. Stricter codes, requiring more durable construction to withstand high winds and flooding, may lead to increased building costs. However, these upfront investments are crucial for reducing long-term economic damage. Enhanced building standards help minimize destruction, thereby decreasing the financial strain on both local governments and homeowners. Understanding and adhering to updated building codes is essential not only for safety but also for economic resilience.

By investing in hardened facilities, businesses and homeowners can mitigate potential losses, reduce insurance claims, and limit economic disruption caused by extensive repairs and downtime post-storm. Furthermore, robust building codes serve a dual purpose in today’s climate-driven age of increasing disasters. They not only protect communities during hurricane season but also fortify them against a variety of natural disasters, thus contributing to a more stable and predictable economic environment. This adaptability can attract investments and support sustained economic growth, making communities more attractive to businesses and residents alike.

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The direct economic impact of hurricanes is most palpable in the immediate damage to properties and infrastructure. AccuWeather's blog notes , "Small businesses, especially those without the financial buffer of larger corporations, can face devastating financial pressures due to storm damage." Beyond physical damage, hurricanes disrupt business operations, leading to loss of income for businesses and employees alike. This disruption can ripple through the economy, affecting everything from local revenue to national economic indicators.

Secondary Economic Effects

The broader economic consequences of a severe hurricane season can be extensive. For instance, disrupted supply chains and damaged infrastructure can lead to spikes in prices, notably in the energy sector. MarketWatch highlights that hurricane damage to oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico could "lead to a late-summer surge in gas prices." These price hikes affect not only the directly impacted regions but also national markets, influencing inflation and consumer spending.

Moreover, the ripple effects of these disruptions can extend to various sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, and retail, which all depend on stable supply chains for their operations. Such disturbances can reduce product availability, increase transportation costs, and delay deliveries, thereby inflating prices and straining economic activities. Additionally, tourism, a major economic driver in many coastal regions, often suffers significant declines as potential visitors avoid storm-impacted areas.

Tips For Hurricane Preparedness

Acknowledging these potential impacts, it's crucial for individuals and communities to prepare adequately for hurricane season. As we brace for a potentially turbulent hurricane season, here are some practical tips to prepare:

• Strengthen Your Home or Business: Invest in improvements to make your property more resistant to storm damage, such as storm shutters and reinforced roofing.

Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S., Metal shutters cover the windows and doors of a Staples Inc. ... [+] Photographer: Alex Wroblewski/Bloomberg

• Review and Update Insurance Coverage: Ensure your property and possessions are adequately covered. Consider flood insurance, as standard policies often exclude flood damage.
• Prepare an Emergency Kit: Stock up on essentials, including water, non-perishable food, batteries, and first aid supplies.
• Create a Communication Plan: Establish how you will communicate with family members during a disaster, especially if cell service is disrupted.
• Stay Informed: Keep track of storm updates and adhere to local evacuation orders.

While the predicted active hurricane season poses significant challenges, proactive preparation and understanding of the associated economic impacts can help mitigate these risks.

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