Maureen L. Cropper
Senior Fellow
Maureen Cropper is a professor of economics at the University of Maryland, a senior fellow at Resources for the Future, a member of the Board of Directors at the National Bureau of Economic Research, and a member of the National Academy of Sciences. A former lead economist at the World Bank, Cropper has made major contributions to environmental policy through her research, teaching, and public service. Her research has focused on valuing environmental amenities, estimating consumer preferences for health and longevity improvements, and the tradeoffs implicit in environmental regulations. Previously, at the World Bank, her work focused on improving policy choices in developing countries through studies of deforestation, road safety, urban slums, and health valuation. She is currently studying priorities for air pollution control in India.
Click here to view all of her research papers.
Education
- Cornell University, PhD in economics, Cornell University, 1973
- BA, summa cum laude, Bryn Mawr College
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Resources Magazine — Oct 7, 2024
From 1959 Through Today: 65 Years of Resources Magazine
The past 65 years of Resources—the full archive of articles dating back to the start of the magazine in 1959—are now freely available online to anyone who’s looking for accurate, trustworthy information about environmental economics.
Working Paper — Jul 19, 2023
Revisiting the Environmental Protection Agency's Value of a Statistical Life
This working paper summarizes advances in mortality risk evaluation literature since the US Environmental Protection Agency initially estimated the value of a statistical life.
Journal Article — May 25, 2023
US Benefit-Cost Analysis Requires Revision
A letter published in the journal Science makes the case for updating benefit-cost analysis to follow the best available data and methods for determining discount rates.
Working Paper — May 10, 2023
The Impact of the Clean Air Act on Particulate Matter in the 1970s
This working paper reviews the definition of nonattainment status under the Clean Air Act to determine the designation's relationship with total suspended particulate readings.
Working Paper — Jul 19, 2023
Revisiting the Environmental Protection Agency's Value of a Statistical Life
This working paper summarizes advances in mortality risk evaluation literature since the US Environmental Protection Agency initially estimated the value of a statistical life.
Journal Article — May 25, 2023
US Benefit-Cost Analysis Requires Revision
A letter published in the journal Science makes the case for updating benefit-cost analysis to follow the best available data and methods for determining discount rates.
Working Paper — May 10, 2023
The Impact of the Clean Air Act on Particulate Matter in the 1970s
This working paper reviews the definition of nonattainment status under the Clean Air Act to determine the designation's relationship with total suspended particulate readings.
Journal Article — Nov 22, 2022
How is the US Pricing Carbon? How Could We Price Carbon?
This journal article summarizes the remarks of Joe Aldy, Dallas Burtraw, Carolyn Fischer, Meredith Fowlie, Rob Williams, and Maureen Cropper on carbon pricing in the United States during a 2022 conference panel session.
RFF Live — Sep 1, 2022
An Updated Social Cost of Carbon: Calculating the Cost of Climate Change
A multi-institutional research team unveils its updated estimate of the social cost of carbon
Workshop — Mar 30, 2022
Looking Back: Using Retrospective Analysis to Improve Federal Environmental Regulation
A workshop featuring "ex post" analyses of the benefits and costs of federal environmental regulations
Workshop — Sep 16, 2019
How Well Are Our Environmental Laws Working? Retrospective Analysis of Federal Environmental Regulation
How Well Are Our Environmental Laws Working? Retrospective Analysis of Federal Environmental Regulation
Workshop — Oct 21, 2015
The Real Outcomes of Federal Environmental Regulations: Lessons from the Performance Data
The Real Outcomes of Federal Environmental Regulations: Lessons from the Performance Data
Resources Magazine — Oct 7, 2024
From 1959 Through Today: 65 Years of Resources Magazine
The past 65 years of Resources—the full archive of articles dating back to the start of the magazine in 1959—are now freely available online to anyone who’s looking for accurate, trustworthy information about environmental economics.
Resources Magazine — May 19, 2022
Senior Fellow Status Update
Robert Stavins talks with economist Maureen L. Cropper about her career in environmental economics, the social cost of carbon, the future of climate policy, climate activism, and more.
Common Resources — Jan 27, 2021
Science-Based Estimates for the Social Cost of Carbon Will Underpin Sound Climate Policy
The Biden administration last week signed an executive order that details plans for updating the federal government’s social cost of carbon estimate. RFF’s Richard G. Newell and Maureen Cropper reflect on how the administration can orient the process arou
Resources Magazine — Jun 15, 2020
Looking Back at 50 Years of the Clean Air Act of 1970
A major retrospective analysis of the Clean Air Act reveals its many public health benefits, along with its associated costs.
Media Highlight — Sep 8, 2022
Barron's: "The Damage from Carbon Is More Costly Than We Thought"
An op-ed written by RFF scholars Maureen Cropper, Richard Newell, Brian Prest, and Kevin Rennert discusses the significance of new findings that the social cost of carbon is $185 per ton.
Media Highlight — Jun 6, 2022
E&E News: "Indian State of Gujarat Moves to Launch Carbon Market"
Senior Fellow Maureen Cropper employs her expertise on Indian air pollution and carbon pricing in a story about efforts in the country to launch a carbon market.
Media Highlight — Nov 10, 2021
'The Most Important Number You've Never Heard Of'
'The Most Important Number You've Never Heard Of'
Media Highlight — Jul 29, 2021
A Carbon Calculation: How Many Deaths Do Emissions Cause?
A Carbon Calculation: How Many Deaths Do Emissions Cause?