Youpei Yan, PhD

Education

• Ph.D.  Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Maryland, 2019
• M.S. Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Maryland, 2017
• B.S. Agricultural and Resource Economics, Mathematics, University of Maryland, 2013

Research Interests

My research focuses on environmental economics, natural capital, land use, and public policy. I study how environmental regulations, climate risks, and economic incentives shape land use, pollution abatement, and natural resource management.

Teaching Philosophy

I want students to feel that economics is useful, accessible, and connected to their lives. In my courses, I combine clear explanations with real-world examples, data exercises, and hands-on applications so students can build confidence as they learn. My goal is to create a supportive classroom where students develop analytical skills, ask better questions, and see economics as a practical tool for understanding business, policy, and society.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

• Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association
• Agricultural and Applied Economics Association
• Association of Environmental and Resource Economists
• Southern Economic Association
• American Economic Association

Honors & Awards

• Co-PI, “The Newfoundland Moose-forest Ecosystem as a Portfolio of Natural Capital: Accounting for Recreation and Ecosystem Feedbacks,” EEPRN Canada, $60,000, 2020 to 2023.

Employment History

• Postdoctoral Associate, Yale University (2019 – 2021)
• Consultant, Finance, Competitiveness & Innovation, World Bank (2018)

Selected Publications

• Yan, Y., & Chambers, R. G. (2026). Efficiency, shadow pricing and regime switching in multi-ware technologies: Evidence from regulated livestock farms. Journal of Agricultural Economics, 1–17. 
• Yan, Y. (2026). Flow and structural effects in asymmetric forest transitions under climate and economic pressure: A regime-switching approach. Forest Policy and Economics. 
• Yan, Y., & Paudel, J. (2025). Natural disasters and land use dynamics: Evidence from earthquake-induced deforestation. World Development. 
• Buchkowski, R. W., Leroux, S. J., Yan, Y., Entem, A., Schmelzer, I., & Fenichel, E. P. (2023). The effects of moose browsing on balsam fir and forest recovery vary with bioclimatic and human use across the island of Newfoundland. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 
• Yan, Y., Malik, A. A., Bayham, J., Fenichel, E. P., Couzens, C., & Omer, S. B. (2021). Measuring voluntary and policy-induced social distancing behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(16), e2008814118.