Environmental Economists
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics > Science and MathematicsProjected Growth: Faster than average
Projected Job Openings
Extensive Preparation Needed
Job Description
Your job is to 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.
Common job titles of Environmental Economists include:
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Experience and Education
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
57.14% said they needed a Doctoral Degree.
28.57% said they needed a Master's Degree.
Tasks
Develop programs or policy recommendations to promote sustainability and sustainable development.
Assess the costs and benefits of various activities, policies, or regulations that affect the environment or natural resource stocks.
Develop programs or policy recommendations to achieve environmental goals in cost-effective ways.
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.
Conduct research to study the relationships among environmental problems and patterns of economic production and consumption.
Perform complex, dynamic, and integrated mathematical modeling of ecological, environmental, or economic systems.
Collect and analyze data to compare the environmental implications of economic policy or practice alternatives.
Develop economic models, forecasts, or scenarios to predict future economic and environmental outcomes.
Develop environmental research project plans, including information on budgets, goals, deliverables, timelines, and resource requirements.
Develop systems for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting environmental and economic data.
Examine the exhaustibility of natural resources or the long-term costs of environmental rehabilitation.
Write research proposals and grant applications to obtain private or public funding for environmental and economic studies.
Write social, legal, or economic impact statements to inform decision makers for natural resource policies, standards, or programs.
Write technical documents or academic articles to communicate study results or economic forecasts.
Demonstrate or promote the economic benefits of sound environmental regulations.
Monitor or analyze market and environmental trends.
Prepare and deliver presentations to communicate economic and environmental study results, to present policy recommendations, or to raise awareness of environmental consequences.
Identify and recommend environmentally friendly business practices.
Interpret indicators to ascertain the overall health of an environment.
Tools
Personal computers
Mainframe computers
Laptop computers
Desktop computers
Computer data input scanners
10-key calculators
Technologies
ESRI ArcGIS software
IBM SPSS Statistics
MySQL
Aptech Systems GAUSS
Camfit Data Limited Microfit
Econometric Software LIMDEP
Estima Regression Analysis of Time Series RATS
All TechnologiesFormula translation/translator FORTRAN
General algebraic modeling system GAMS
Global Insight AREMOS
Insightful S-PLUS
Quantitative Micro Software EViews
Wolfram Research Mathematica
Skills
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Systems Analysis
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Systems Evaluation
Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Instructing
Teaching others how to do something.
Management of Financial Resources
Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Persuasion
Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Abilities
Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Written Comprehension
Communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Written Expression
Choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Cognitive Abilities › Quantitative Abilities › Mathematical Reasoning
Combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Inductive Reasoning
Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Oral Expression
Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Deductive Reasoning
Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Oral Comprehension
Tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Problem Sensitivity
Add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Cognitive Abilities › Quantitative Abilities › Number Facility
Speak clearly so others can understand you.
Auditory and Speech Abilities › Sensory Abilities › Speech Clarity