People | George R. Parsons

• Education
• Research Interests
• Current Projects
• Teaching
• Publications
• Advisement
• Other Activities

• A.B., Economics, Indiana University, 1975.
• Ph.D., Economics, University of Wisconsin, 1985.

Professor Parsons' research interests are in the areas of applied welfare economics, benefit-cost analysis, and damage assessment as applied to environmental and natural resource management issues.  Most of his work is focused on choice modeling -- travel-cost models, hedonic price models, contingent valuation methods, and stated preference models.  He is particularly interested in applications to coastal and ocean resources.  Some of the topics covered in his research include the valuation of beach closures in a travel-cost random utility model, the impact of land use restrictions on property values in a hedonic price model, the value of lost coral reef cover to recreational divers in a state preference choice model, and the cost of nourishment versus retreat on beaches facing coastal erosion. 

Non-monetary Values In Damage Assessment Funded by the Coastal Response Research Center at the University of New Hampshire

An Economic Analysis of Beach Loss in the Mid-Atlantic Region Funded by the Delaware Sea Grant

Short Term Closures in Random Utility Models Funded by the Coastal Response Research Center at the University of New Hampshire

An Economic Analysis of Migratory Shorebirds in the Mid-Atlantic Region Funded by the Delaware Sea Grant and DuPont Clear into the Future

Professor Parsons teaches graduate Environmental Economics (MAST/ECON 676) pdf, Applied Policy Analysis (MAST 672/ECON 670) pdf, and the Marine Policy Seminar (MAST 873) link. MAST 873 is taught on a rotating basis with other faculty.

Parsons, G. R. and S. Thur. "Valuing Changes in the Quality of Coral Reef Ecosystems: A State Preference Study of SCUBA Diving in the Bonaire National Marine Park".  Environmental and Resource Economics, Forthcoming 2008. pdf

Borchers, A. M., J. M. Duke, and G. R. Parsons, "Does Willingness to Pay for Green Energy Differ by Source?" Energy Policy, 35(6):3327-34, 2007. pdf

Parsons, G. R., A. O. Morgan, J. C. Whitehead, and T. C. Haab, "The Welfare Effects of Pfiesteria-Related Fish Kills: A Contingent Behavior Analysis of Seafood Consumers". Agricultural and Resource Economics Review 35/2: 349-356, October 2006. pdf

Reiter, M. A., G. R. Parsons, R. W. Scarborough, C. Fan, and S. M. Thur. "An Interdisciplinary Model for the St. Jones River Watershed, Delaware: Development, Results, and Implications" Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Restoration, 2:38-50, 2006.

Parsons, G. R. and J. Noailly, "A Value Capture Property Tax for Financing Beach Nourishment Projects: An Application to Delaware's Ocean Beaches" Ocean and Coastal Management, 47:49-61, 2004. pdf

Scrogin, D., K. Boyle, G. Parsons, and A. J. Plantinga, "Effects of Regulations on Expected Catch, Expected Harvest, and Site Choice of Recreational Anglers." American Journal of Agricultural Economics 86 (4): 963-974, 2004.  pdf

von Haefen, R., D. Phaneuf, and G. R. Parsons "Estimation and Welfare Analysis with Large Demand Systems" Journal of Business and Economics Statistics 22(2), 2004. pdf

Professor Parsons advises graduate students in Marine Policy and Economics and undergraduates in the Honors Economics.  His current active advisees are

PhD Marine Policy: Ami Kang, Peter Edwards, Kelley Appleman, and Christy Loper.

PhD Economics: Georgi Spiridonov and Stela Stefanova.

Honors Economics: Laura Magee.

Member, Environmental Economics Committee of EPA's Scientific Advisory Board, 2008 -

Associate Editor, Marine Resource Economics, 1999 -

Member, National Academy of Sciences Panel to Evaluate Recreational Fishing Survey Methods, 2005-6

Board of Directors, Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, 1999-2002

Associate Editor, Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 1994-97