Research
Department research strengths
Our department is recognized for its strengths in both research and teaching. Areas of faculty research include both theoretical and applied economics, health, Indigenous and climate economics, econometric theory and the history of economic thought.
All faculty members have active research programs and publish regularly in academic journals. In addition, our faculty members have made important applied contributions to industry and governments at various levels.
Seminar series
Our department holds weekly seminars by visiting speakers which is normally held on Fridays from 3 — 4:30 p.m. (department seminars). On Wednesdays, we host internal, lunchtime (brown bag seminars) workshops where visiting professors, faculty and graduate students present their research. These run from 12:30 —1:20 p.m.
We are also the host for the CEA’s (Canadian Economics Association) Indigenous Economics Study Group's (IESG) weekly virtual seminar, which is held on Thursdays from 12 — 1 p.m. (i.e. 3 — 4 p.m. EST). The IESG seminar welcomes cutting edge contemporary and historical research on Indigenous economies. Finally, we host pre-eminent scholars to present lectures through the Lansdowne Lecture Series.
Working papers
Browse all of the working papers from the Economics department from 1991 onwards.
REPA working papers
How does economics relate to natural resource, environmental, forestry and agricultural issues?
The Resource Economics & Policy Analysis (REPA) research group examines the complex interactions between the economy and natural resources. Research in REPA is directed by Dr. G. Cornelis van Kooten and includes graduate students, research associates and post-docs. REPA is based in the Economics department at the University of Victoria.
REPA works closely with research economists at the Canadian Forest Service’s Pacific Forestry Centre in Victoria — Drs. Brad Stennes, Lili Sun, Kurt Niqudet and Bill Wilson. It also works closely with the Institute for Integrated Energy Systems at the University of Victoria (IESVic).
Browse the full list of REPA working papers.
Climate economics
Researchers in the department are experts in the area of climate change, environmental economics and natural resources.
- Dr. Felix Pretis studies complex issues related to the interaction between the economy and climate, and simple tools of economics used to analyze climate-related problems.
- Kees von Kooten holds a Canada Research Chair in Environmental Studies and Climate with interests that range from agricultural and forest economics to development, computational and energy economics. Dr. von Kooten teaches on topics that include the green revolution, climate change, food security, and genetic engineering and the environment.
- Dr. Daniel Rondeau specializes in the study of environmental and resource management issues and mechanism design applied to environmental valuation, the study of public goods and resource markets.
Indigenous economics
Health economics
Health economics is a growing field in the department. Dr. Christopher Auld is an expert in the of issues related to health, the labor market, and education. He researches and teaches on the economic analysis of health-affecting behaviours and of actors within the health care system. He examines topics, such as, health insurance and its private and public provision, physician behaviour, social determinants of health, equity and efficiency in health care, and the economics of risky behaviors.