Faculty and students in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics study the production, distribution, and consumption of food, fiber, and energy in both well-developed and less-developed countries. To address these issues, the department emphasizes the development and application of rigorous economic theory and quantitative methods. Researchers strive to understand and improve government policy, market performance, environmental quality, the efficiency of natural resource use, and economic welfare. The department offers the popular Managerial Economics undergraduate major and top-rated Ph.D. and Masters programs in Agricultural and Resource Economics.
Department News
Richard Howitt, professor and chair of the ARE department, was honored as a Fellow of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) at the annual meeting held in Milwaukee, WI on July 26-28, 2009. Howitt's research includes three primary areas: modeling methods for agricultural and environmental policy analysis; policy analysis applied to water allocation problems and related issues; and applied dynamic analysis of resource allocation problems. Professor Howitt's research involves multi-disciplinary collaboration with hydrologists, engineers, and fishery biologists. For example, his work on the Calvin Project with UC Davis engineer Jay Lund has developed a large economic and engineering model of the California water system. AAEA recognizes a small group of professionals each year who have made outstanding continuous contributions to the profession. The Fellow Award is AAEA's most prestigious honor.