Steve Colt

Professor of Economics

907-786-1753

steve.colt@uaa.alaska.edu

Research: sustainable communities; social-ecological systems; political economy; alcohol-control policy

• Ph.D., Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1999
• BA, Economics, Williams College, 1981

I earned my Ph.D. in economics from MIT (1999), and a B.A. in economics with concentration in environmental studies from Williams College (1981). I began working at ISER in 1984 as a Research Associate and, hence, have about 20 years of research experience in Alaska.

My principal research interests include energy economics with emphasis on renewables, isolated utility systems, and the demand side; and the economics of ecosystem services, including tourism and recreation. I used to study Alaska Native corporations, but I have not done this for several years.

My research is typically cross-disciplinary and problem-oriented. For example, I am working with an electrical engineer on concept plans for integrated village energy systems that might displace diesel. I am also working with natural scientists and GIS experts to develop and integrate information on economic use values with biophysical data, using a common geography.

I have joint appointments with the Department of Economics, the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies and the UAA Liberal Studies Program. I teach economic development, environmental economics and policy, natural resource economics, introduction to environmental studies, and "Science, Technology, and Culture."

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Recent Stuff

Last Updated: February 2009

• Alaska's Environmental Assets [March 2008]
• AK PFDs as Basic Income: Mexico City [Nov 2007]
• Nature-Based Tourism in Southeast Alaska [Ongoing]