Christopher Timmins

Christopher Timmins serves as the Gary J Gorman Affordable Housing Professor and Department Chair in the Real Estate and Urban Land Economics Department at the Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Madison. He previously held faculty positions at Yale University and Duke University, bringing extensive experience in urban and environmental economics to his current leadership role.

Professor Timmins earned his BSFS in International Economics from Georgetown University and completed his Ph.D. in Economics at Stanford University. His educational background has provided a strong foundation for his research in economic analysis of environmental and housing issues. His career trajectory demonstrates a consistent focus on applying rigorous economic methods to address critical social and environmental challenges.

Timmins specializes in urban and environmental economics, with additional interests spanning industrial organization, development, public, and regional economics. His research focuses on developing innovative methods for non-market valuation of local public goods and amenities, with particular emphasis on hedonic techniques and models of residential sorting. He has made significant contributions to understanding the economic dimensions of environmental justice, examining how low-income groups and people of color have disproportionately borne the burden of pollution in the United States for decades. His work identifies multiple mechanisms driving these disparities, including the siting of pollution sources in disadvantaged communities, constrained housing choices due to income inequality, and discrimination that limits housing options even for resource-endowed households of color.

His recent publications reveal a consistent analytical approach applying sophisticated economic methodologies to measure environmental costs, housing market dynamics, and equity implications. A notable trend is his focus on discrimination in housing markets, particularly during crisis periods like eviction moratoria, and the intersection of environmental hazards with demographic disparities. His research spans air pollution health effects, brownfield remediation benefits, housing market responses to environmental hazards, and causal mechanisms behind environmental injustice.

As holder of the Gary J Gorman Affordable Housing Professorship, Timmins has established himself as a leading scholar whose work bridges academic rigor and policy relevance. His publications in top economics journals reflect the significance of his contributions to understanding how economic forces shape environmental exposures and housing opportunities across different population groups.

Professor Timmins actively engages with policy implications of his research, frequently presenting his findings at major academic conferences and participating in policy discussions related to housing affordability, environmental regulation, and equitable community development. His leadership as Department Chair positions him to influence the next generation of real estate professionals and researchers committed to addressing complex urban challenges through evidence-based approaches.