Environmental Environmental EconomistEconomist

What is Environmental What is Environmental Economics?Economics?

Environmental economics is about balancing Environmental economics is about balancing peoples wants and needs for products and peoples wants and needs for products and services with the necessity of protecting natural services with the necessity of protecting natural resources and the environment resources and the environment Land development vs species richnessLand development vs species richness Harvesting trees now vs in the futureHarvesting trees now vs in the future

Many issues have broad social and cultural Many issues have broad social and cultural and political implications beyond those in and political implications beyond those in traditional economicstraditional economics

Two FocusesTwo Focuses

Environmental EconomicsEnvironmental Economics Focus on human preferences (demand)Focus on human preferences (demand)

Ecological EconomicsEcological Economics Focus on environmental and science Focus on environmental and science

consequences (supply side)consequences (supply side)

What insight do these What insight do these economists give?economists give?

Many people do not give full credit to your Many people do not give full credit to your standard “environmentalist” because of their standard “environmentalist” because of their bias background.bias background.

Environmental Economists speak in dollars Environmental Economists speak in dollars and cents which is a more universal language and cents which is a more universal language to outsiders.to outsiders.

They give monetary reasoning behind policy They give monetary reasoning behind policy decisionsdecisions

Show costs and benefits to different policy and Show costs and benefits to different policy and decisions made by representatives.decisions made by representatives.

EducationEducation

Difficult to obtain a degree or certification in Difficult to obtain a degree or certification in “Environmental Economics”“Environmental Economics”

More programs are being recognized and More programs are being recognized and availability is increasingavailability is increasing MSU, UCSD, DukeMSU, UCSD, Duke

Possible classes:Possible classes: Green accountingGreen accounting Natural resource policyNatural resource policy Land use planning and policyLand use planning and policy International relations and the environmentInternational relations and the environment

Professional outlookProfessional outlook

Same jobs as regular economistsSame jobs as regular economists Work with variable that are not traditionalWork with variable that are not traditional Work within a variety of sectors and fieldsWork within a variety of sectors and fields Environmental economics is becoming Environmental economics is becoming

more important within traditional sciencesmore important within traditional sciences Employers:Employers:

Private 90%Private 90% Government 10%Government 10%

Expected SalaryExpected Salary

Median Annual earnings for Median Annual earnings for “Environmental Economists”: $64,830“Environmental Economists”: $64,830

Entry level for government employed Entry level for government employed economists in 2001: $21,900economists in 2001: $21,900

Masters degree entry level: $33,300Masters degree entry level: $33,300 Obviously as experience increases so Obviously as experience increases so

does salarydoes salary

What do environmental What do environmental economists do with their economists do with their lives?lives?

Teach environmental economics or other Teach environmental economics or other related subjectsrelated subjects

Work for environmental consulting firmsWork for environmental consulting firms Work for NGEOWork for NGEO Work for the governmentWork for the government

Jobs within the EPAJobs within the EPA ResearchResearch Programmatic support for policy (analysis and tools)Programmatic support for policy (analysis and tools) Policy and Program analysisPolicy and Program analysis

Why am I Interested?Why am I Interested?

Different view than the traditional Different view than the traditional environmental viewenvironmental view

Easier to communicate with people using Easier to communicate with people using dollars and centsdollars and cents Turns non-traditional goods into marketable goodsTurns non-traditional goods into marketable goods

People are more likely to respond to immediate People are more likely to respond to immediate economic consequences than long term economic consequences than long term environmental problems.environmental problems.