Interests

Marketing, Price Analysis, Econometrics  - Marketing, Applied Price Analysis, Mathematical Optimization Modeling, Applied Econometric Forecasting - Managing price risk using dairy futures, options and cash markets; Econometric modeling of agricultural markets' functions and efficiency; Applied mathematical optimization and agribusiness modeling; Advanced econometric methods to study futures markets and applied forecasting; Bayesian conditional forecasting for agricultural commodities.

Biographical Info

Primary research interests are in applied mathematical optimization and statistical and econometric modeling of economic functions and efficiency of agricultural markets. This includes the quantitative modeling of agricultural and agribusiness decision processes, applied commodity price forecasting using Bayesian times-series techniques; and the development and application of advanced econometric methods to the study of futures markets. Dr. Thraen is studying the commodity market contracts for milk, cheese, butter and nonfat dry milk; trading on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Dr. Thraen is also co-director of the National Program for Integrated Dairy Risk Management Education and Research, a national program to develop educational materials and computer software for the dairy industry. He is active in state and national dairy industry activities and teaches applied mathematical optimization and agribusiness marketing.