Joe Cook

Joe Cook is Professor at the School of Economic Sciences, Washington State University (WSU), with affiliations at the University of Washington (2013-2017). His career spans water policy, development economics, and environmental valuation across academia and policy.

• PhD in Economics from University of North Carolina (2007)
• MS in Economics, University of North Carolina (2004)
• BS in Economics, Cornell University (1996)

Research focuses on water economics and non-market valuation, particularly stormwater infrastructure, water markets, and benefit-cost analysis in both developed and developing contexts. His work bridges environmental economics, development policy, and behavioral economics, with applications to Kenya, Washington State, and urban water systems.

Recent publications analyze residential green infrastructure adoption, water pricing equity, and hedonic well-being in water access contexts. These papers emphasize behavioral responses, policy design, and infrastructure investment across multiple journals.

• Excellence in Teaching Award (University of Washington, student-awarded, 2010-11, 2015-16)
• Dean’s Excellence in Teaching Award (University of Washington, 2013)
• Bruce Gardner Memorial Prize (2016, co-authored with Bruce Gardner)

Teaching includes doctoral Resource Economics, undergraduate Principles of Microeconomics, and master's-level Water Resource Economics. Extension work involves stormwater policy tools and water affordability programs through platforms like waterassistanceprograms.org and waterbehaviorchange.org.