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Economics of Wildfires in Australia and the United States

AAEA annual meeting track session

In the 2022 AAEA Annual Meeting session “Economics of wildfire” authors discuss how the United States and Australia have both seen increasing impacts from wildfire in recent years. In 2021, California faced its largest single wildfire in recorded history, while Australia’s wildfire season in 2019-2020 (known as the “Black Summer”) made news around the world for its widespread impacts. Fire policy makers and managers face a wealth of complex decision problems, including long-term stategic decisions about mitigating risk and short-term within-fire tactical decisions. Traditionally, fire agencies have made relatively little use of economics but there are a growing number of economists working on the issue and engaging with relevant agencies. In this track session we will present a variety of current research projects on wildfire management, policy, and impacts across both countries.

Presentations in this session:

  • The benefits of preparing to fight fire
    Presented by: Jude Bayham
  • Are Australians building back better after the Black Summer fires? Exploring socio-economic and spatial variations in Australia’s bushfire resilience using night-time light data
    Presented by: Sonia Akter
  • Local Economic Impacts of Wildfires
    Presented by: Matthew J. Wibbenmeyer
  • Optimal allocation of fuel treatment grants across private lands
    Presented by: Christine Dimke
  • Homeowners' willingness to pay for fire-resistant housing features or taxes based on wildfire risk
    Presented by: Joshua Olsen

This session will take place on August 2, 2022 at 4:45 pm – 6:15 pm Pacific in the room Elite 2 at the Marriott Anaheim and virtual.

If you are interested in attending the 2022 AAEA Annual Meeting in Anaheim, CA, please send a completed complimentary media registration to Allison Ware in the AAEA Business Office. You can also learn more on our Annual Meeting Media Kit page. All registrants will have full access to all session’s virtual component.

ABOUT AAEA: Established in 1910, the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) is the leading professional association for agricultural and applied economists, with 2,500 members in more than 60 countries. Members of the AAEA work in academic or government institutions as well as in industry and not-for-profit organizations, and engage in a variety of research, teaching, and outreach activities in the areas of agriculture, the environment, food, health, and international development. The AAEA publishes three journals, the Journal of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (an open access journal), the American Journal of Agricultural Economics and Applied Economic Perspectives & Policy, as well as the online magazine Choices and the online open access publication series Applied Economics Teaching Resources. To learn more, visit www.aaea.org.

Contact: Allison Ware
Senior Communications Manager
(414) 918-3190
Email: aware@aaea.org