Levan Elbakidze

Dr. Levan Elbakidze is a Professor of Resource Economics and Management in the Division of Resource Economics and Management at West Virginia University's Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design. He holds additional appointments as a Faculty Research Associate at both the Regional Research Institute and the Center for Innovation in Gas Research and Utilization. Dr. Elbakidze earned his BS and MS degrees from the University of Nevada, Reno, followed by a PhD from Texas A&M University.

Research Focus

His research program spans natural resource economics with specialization in:

• Water resource economics and policy
• Management strategies for invasive species, pests, and animal diseases
• Energy economics and market dynamics
• Applications of experimental economics
• Interdisciplinary modeling of human-biophysical systems

Research Output

Dr. Elbakidze's publications demonstrate consistent focus on environmental and resource economics, with recent work emphasizing regulatory compliance, energy-agriculture interactions, climate adaptation strategies, and economic valuation of natural resources. His research frequently employs empirical analysis of policy impacts across water, energy, and land use domains.

Funding and Affiliations

His research has been supported by grants from:

• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
• The Nature Conservancy

He maintains active collaborations through the Regional Research Institute and Center for Innovation in Gas Research and Utilization, focusing on interdisciplinary resource management solutions.