Yong Chen

Dr. Yong Chen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at Oregon State University, affiliated with the College of Agricultural Sciences. His research focuses on spatial/rural economics, particularly the sustainability of rural economic development in coupled human-natural systems. Key areas include environmental policy impacts, natural hazard exposure, and land use dynamics.

Dr. Chen holds a Ph.D. in applied economics from Ohio State University (2009), an M.A. in Economics from Peking University (2003), and a B.A. in English from Beijing Foreign Studies University (1999). His academic career at OSU spans over 15 years, starting as an Assistant Professor in 2009.

His research explores topics such as regional development under climate change, disaster economics, and policy analysis. Notable projects include modeling land-use change, assessing economic vulnerability to tsunamis, and evaluating federal forest policies' impact on Pacific Northwest communities. He has secured grants from NSF, USDA, and Bonneville Power Administration, totaling over $3 million in funding.

Dr. Chen collaborates extensively with engineers and ecologists, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach. His work has been featured in journals like Land Use Policy, Natural Hazards Review, and Regional Science and Urban Economics, with over 20 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters.