Robert N. StavinsView profile
Professor
Robert N. Stavins is the A.J. Meyer Professor of Energy & Economic Development at Harvard Kennedy School, where he also serves as Director of Graduate Studies for the Doctoral Programs in Public Policy and in Political Economy and Government, Cochair of the MPP/MBA and MPA/ID/MBA Joint Degree Programs, Director of the Harvard Environmental Economics Program, and Director of the Harvard Project on Climate Agreements. He is a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research and a University Fellow of Resources for the Future. Stavins holds a BA in philosophy from Northwestern University, an MS in agricultural economics from Cornell, and a PhD in economics from Harvard. His educational background reflects the interdisciplinary nature of his work at the intersection of economics, policy, and environmental science. His research spans diverse areas of environmental economics and policy, with particular expertise in market-based environmental policy instruments, climate change policy, energy economics, and the economics of wine. Stavins has examined the theoretical foundations and practical applications of cap-and-trade systems, carbon taxation, and other market-based approaches to environmental problems. His work has appeared in numerous economics, law, and policy journals, as well as several books. Stavins' recent publications reveal a strong focus on methane emissions reduction, international climate policy cooperation (particularly between the U.S. and China), electric vehicle market dynamics, and the implications of U.S. climate policy shifts under changing administrations. His research employs both theoretical economic modeling and empirical analysis of policy outcomes. Among his notable professional activities, Stavins directed Project 88, a bipartisan effort co-chaired by former Senator Timothy Wirth and the late Senator John Heinz to develop innovative approaches to environmental problems. He has served as former Chair of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Economics Advisory Board and is a member of editorial councils of scholarly periodicals. Stavins has been extensively engaged in policy outreach, serving as a consultant to government agencies, international organizations, corporations, and advocacy groups. He leads the Harvard Project on Climate Agreements, which conducts research on international climate policy architecture and facilitates dialogue among policymakers, academics, and stakeholders.
