Christian P. Traeger

Christian P. Traeger is Professor of Economics at the University of Oslo and Research Director of the ifo Center for Energy Climate and Resources at the ifo Institute. He holds the distinguished position of Distinguished CESifo Affiliate within the Energy and Climate Economics research network, connecting him to a global consortium of environmental economics scholars.

His research centers on Environmental Economics, Climate Economics, and Energy Economics, with deep expertise in Decision Theory and Microeconomics. Key contributions include:

• Developing frameworks for climate risk pricing under uncertainty
• Analyzing optimal design of clean energy subsidy programs
• Reassessing tax versus quantity-based climate policy instruments
• Creating 'Smart Cap' mechanisms for international emissions trading

Recent publications reveal an evolving focus toward integrating macroeconomic dynamics into climate policy analysis, particularly regarding energy transitions. His 2025 work on clean energy subsidies represents the current frontier of this research trajectory.

As Research Director of the ifo Center for Energy Climate and Resources, he oversees a dedicated team advancing empirical and theoretical work at the energy-climate nexus. His CESifo affiliation places him within a specialized network examining policy design, renewable energy promotion, fossil fuel markets, and natural resource management through rigorous economic analysis.

While specific advising details aren't public, his publication record indicates active collaboration with leading economists including Larry S. Karp, Svenn Jensen, Gregory Casey, and Woongchan Jeon. Current research directions suggest continued focus on macroeconomic dimensions of climate policy and strategic design of international climate agreements.