Matthew E. Oliver

Matthew E. Oliver is an Associate Professor in the School of Economics at Georgia Institute of Technology, specializing in energy and environmental economics. His research examines regulatory frameworks for energy infrastructure, renewable energy policy impacts, and climate change economics, with particular focus on natural gas pipelines and solar energy adoption dynamics.

His research interests center on energy market regulation, natural gas markets, and renewable energy policy. Oliver has pioneered work on the solar rebound effect - documenting how residential solar adoption increases total electricity consumption by 28.5%. His research reveals critical trade-offs in energy policy, such as how fly ash reuse in India's power sector unexpectedly increases CO₂ emissions, and how declining discount rates for carbon taxes create investment disincentives.

Oliver's publication trends show a strategic evolution from natural gas pipeline regulation (2014-2018) toward solar energy economics (2019-present). His recent work establishes theoretical frameworks for solar rebound effects and demonstrates how utility-scale solar avoids consumption rebounds that undermine rooftop solar's carbon reduction potential. His research combines rigorous econometric methods with practical policy insights for electricity grid management and climate mitigation strategies.

• Economic impacts of natural gas pipeline regulation
• Solar rebound effect quantification
• Renewable energy price volatility
• Climate policy investment disincentives
• Forest expansion-agriculture trade-offs

Oliver teaches advanced courses including ECON-7102 Environmental Economics and ECON-6380 Economics of Environment. His research informs policy debates on energy infrastructure investment, renewable integration, and climate agreement design, with findings featured in major media outlets including Futurity.