Erik Nelson

Erik Nelson is a contributing scholar with the CGO. He is an associate professor of economics at Bowdin College with a passion for environmental economics. He became interested in the interplay between economics and the environment, leading him to pursue a PhD in economics. His research interests focus on land management, biodiversity conservation, and the impacts of climate change on agriculture. Erik’s work aims to identify land-use patterns that meet ecological or biological goals at the least cost to society. He also studies the benefits and costs of managing land to enhance or maintain ecosystem service supply, as well as setting aside land for biodiversity conservation. Erik is highly skilled in simulation modeling and mathematical programming, which he uses to investigate a wide range of environmental issues.

Erik’s interdisciplinary approach has made him an important contributor to numerous research teams. His role on these teams is to provide appropriate economic theory and computational expertise. Erik is also an accomplished teacher and teaches classes on microeconomics, environmental economics and policy, land use/ecosystem services, and mathematical economics. His teaching is highly regarded by his students, who appreciate his ability to make complex economic concepts accessible and engaging. Overall, Erik Nelson is a dedicated and accomplished economist who has made significant contributions to the field of environmental economics, both through his research and his teaching.