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Environmental Economists

  • Bright Outlook
  • Rapid Growth

Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.

What you’d do

  • Write technical documents or academic articles to communicate study results or economic forecasts.
  • Conduct research on economic and environmental topics, such as alternative fuel use, public and private land use, soil conservation, air and water pollution control, and endangered species protection.
  • Collect and analyze data to compare the environmental implications of economic policy or practice alternatives.
  • Assess the costs and benefits of various activities, policies, or regulations that affect the environment or natural resource stocks.
  • Prepare and deliver presentations to communicate economic and environmental study results, to present policy recommendations, or to raise awareness of environmental consequences.
  • Develop programs or policy recommendations to achieve environmental goals in cost-effective ways.
  • Develop economic models, forecasts, or scenarios to predict future economic and environmental outcomes.
  • Demonstrate or promote the economic benefits of sound environmental regulations.

Skills that matter

  • Writing
  • Active Listening
  • Critical Thinking
  • Mathematics
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Learning

How to get there

Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher

Also called

  • Environmental Economist
  • Natural Resource Economist
  • Research Economist
  • Resource Economist

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