An updated consensus survey of environmental and natural resource economists

Abstract In 2023 a survey was given to environmental and natural resource economists to gauge levels of consensus in the field. Strong consensus can signal to policymakers the relative strength of particular policy proposals. Respondents were queried on topics including air quality, groundwater, climate change, natural resource management, land conservation, environmental justice, and more. Survey results were compared to a similar survey given in 2012, to determine how consensus levels may have changed over time. We find, for the most part, significant levels of consensus today, and over time, on many key topics and policy proposals.

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Publication Details

Journal
Contemporary Economic Policy
Published
2026-02-28
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/coep.70025
Primary Topic
Sustainability and Climate Change Governance
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

An updated consensus survey of environmental and natural resource economists

John C. Whitehead, Lea‐Rachel Kosnik, Timothy C. Haab
Contemporary Economic Policy
Sustainability and Climate Change Governance
article

An updated consensus survey of environmental and natural resource economists

John C. Whitehead, Lea‐Rachel Kosnik, Timothy C. Haab
article en

Abstract

Abstract In 2023 a survey was given to environmental and natural resource economists to gauge levels of consensus in the field. Strong consensus can signal to policymakers the relative strength of particular policy proposals. Respondents were queried on topics including air quality, groundwater, climate change, natural resource management, land conservation, environmental justice, and more. Survey results were compared to a similar survey given in 2012, to determine how consensus levels may have changed over time. We find, for the most part, significant levels of consensus today, and over time, on many key topics and policy proposals.

Contemporary Economic Policy
University of Missouri–St. Louis (US), Appalachian State University (US), The Ohio State University (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 43%
Sustainability and Climate Change Governance
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An updated consensus survey of environmental and natural resource economists — John C. Whitehead, Lea‐Rachel Kosnik, et al. · Contemporary Economic Policy (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS