Fields of Specialization in AED Economics
Our department has nearly 30 faculty members with a wide range of expertise. Because of this diversity, we are able to offer courses covering many different sub-disciplines within AED Economics All graduate students are expected to choose at least one field of specialization. M.S. students begin taking elective courses toward their field in their first year. Ph.D. students usually begin taking field courses in their second year but may take one or two field courses in their first year as well. The department has three major fields of specialization: agricultural economics, environmental economics, and development economics. Many cross-cutting issues and methods to which faculty and graduate students in AED Economics devote attention span two or three of the fields listed above. Examples of cross-cutting issues recently explored in the department are listed below. If a student has a particular plan of study that is not best described by one of the three major fields, or by the cross-cutting fields listed below, we encourage them to discuss this with their advisor and to choose a set of courses consistent with their interests. Examples of cross-cutting fields include:
The three major fields and the faculty working within them are best described as follows: Agricultural EconomicsThis specialization focuses on farming, wholesale distribution, processing, marketing, and retail sales. Prominent themes include contracting, technology transfer, information management, risk management, food safety, biotechnology, supply chain management, strategic planning, and agricultural policy. Graduate faculty working in this field are Marv Batte, Charlie Chern, Lynn Forster, Neal Hooker, Eugene Jones, Mario Miranda, Matt Roberts, Brian Roe, Abdoul Sam, Ian Sheldon, Tom Sporleder, Stan Thompson, Cam Thraen, Steve Wu, and Carl Zulauf. Environmental EconomicsThis specialization focuses on valuation, use, and regulation of natural resources and the natural environment. Prominent themes include common pool resource management, property rights, pollution control, land use change, climate change, growth management, environmental sustainability, biodiversity, habitat conservation, and environmental policy. Graduate faculty working in this field are Lynn Forster, Elena Irwin, Tim Haab, Fred Hitzhusen, Larry Libby, Mario Miranda, Mark Partridge, Alan Randall, Brian Roe, Abdoul Sam, Ian Sheldon, Brent Sohngen, and Doug Southgate. Development EconomicsThis specialization focuses on the level and distribution of material well-being of individuals, households, communities, and nations. Prominent themes include poverty alleviation, microfinance, spatial inequality, ex-urban development, food security, human capital formation, sustainable development, social capital, technology transfer, microenterprise development, and rural development policy. Graduate faculty working in this field are Joyce Chen, Charlie Chern, Elena Irwin, Claudio Gonzalez-Vega, Dave Kraybill, Mario Miranda, Mark Partridge, Brian Roe, Abdoul Sam, Ian Sheldon, Doug Southgate, Stan Thompson, and Steve Wu. |