Michelle Andrea Phillips

Michele Andrea Phillips is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Florida, affiliated with the Public Policy Research Center as a Research Associate. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Florida (2012) and a B.S. in Economics from the University of Central Florida (2007). Her roles include coordinating the undergraduate honors thesis program and mentoring over 20 students annually in research awards such as University Scholars, Cutler Scholars, and Askew Scholars.

Education

• Ph.D., Economics, University of Florida, 2012
• B.S., Economics, University of Central Florida (minor in Health Service Administration), 2007

Research Interests

Her work focuses on Infrastructure Economics, Public Economics/Public Choice, and Environmental Economics, with emphasis on policy applications in water/energy utilities, regulatory systems design, and soil-carbon sequestration. She pioneered the Pedo-Econometric approach linking soil analysis with economic modeling.

Article Trends

Recent publications (2017–2023) emphasize interdisciplinary research at the intersection of econometrics and environmental science, particularly soil-carbon sequestration indices, regulatory frameworks for utilities, and labor union impacts. Key methodologies include data envelopment analysis and metafrontier modeling.

Professional Experience

• Former Economist at the Public Utility Research Center
• World Bank consultant on infrastructure provision in conflict zones
• Contributor to the World Bank's Body of Knowledge on Infrastructure (BOKIR)

Labs/Teams

Active in the Public Policy Research Center and collaborates with multidisciplinary teams on infrastructure networks and environmental policy.