Lucija Muehlenbachs

Lucija Muehlenbachs is a Professor of Economics at the University of Calgary and a University Fellow at Resources for the Future in Washington, DC. Her research focuses on environmental and energy economics, particularly the economic implications of resource extraction, regulatory policies, and environmental justice. She has contributed to understanding shale gas development impacts on housing markets, environmental liabilities, and resource management.

Her work spans interdisciplinary topics including electricity reliability valuation, hazardous waste regulation, and the externalities of trucking in shale gas operations. Muehlenbachs frequently collaborates with institutions like the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and publishes in journals such as the American Economic Review and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Recent research trends emphasize environmental justice evaluation, policy design for in-kind settlements, and cumulative impacts analysis. She has also engaged in applied policy work through publications with the University of Calgary School of Public Policy, addressing issues like oil well regulations and shale gas waste management.

Her studies often bridge theoretical economic models with empirical policy analysis, providing actionable insights for regulators and policymakers. Current projects include examining regulatory impacts on Indigenous communities in oil and gas production and the broader societal costs of environmental liabilities.