Policy Briefs
I want my research to have impact in the real world, so for each paper there is a short brief on what it means for policy: what we find, and what it implies for policymakers.
Investors Cannot Decarbonize Oil and Gas on Their Own
Transitioning away from fossil fuels is in the long-term interest of those who own oil firms. Yet firms hold an informational and positional advantage over how climate risk gets managed, and there is little incentive to decarbonize. External pressure has limited impacts on decarbonizing polluting firms. What decides how much pressure gets through is regulation.
Climate Policy Centered on Benefits Can Win Votes
Climate policy that centers costs often produces backlash. The Inflation Reduction Act centered benefits instead, through manufacturing tax credits that put factories in particular places. Districts that received one gained about 1.5 percentage points in 2024 Democratic presidential vote share, and no district shows backlash.
Carbon Storage Permitting Conflicts with Environmental Justice
Communities are given an arena to participate through public comment periods. Yet regulators are not required to contend with a substantial share of the concerns communities bring forward. While communities may be formally included in the process, they remain substantively excluded from meaningful participation.