Agricultural and Resource Economics M.S.

Ag Resource Economics MS Students

Program overview

The program in Agricultural and Resource Economics leads to the Master of Science degree and offers students the perspectives and skills necessary to understand and work in the general fields of applied economics, agricultural and food economics, resource economics, environmental economics, agribusiness, or government sectors of the economy. Also, a strong intermediate level of training is offered so that students may continue graduate work and obtain a PhD degree. Students completing the M.S. degree in Agricultural and Resource Economics are expected to acquire: 

  • theoretical knowledge in microeconomics and primary data collection necessary to complete human dimensions research; 

  • quantitative skills in econometric modelling as well as best methods for data collection, management, and analysis;

  • competencies in agriculture and food policy, behavioral economics, environmental economics, experimental economics, research methods, resource economics, and/or stated preferences;

  • critical thinking, oral and written communication skills by composing and presenting a thesis.

Course spotlights

Graduate students study consumer theory (e.g., deriving demand), theory of the firm (deriving supply), market equilibrium (putting demand and supply together) and market forms (perfect and not so perfect ones). Instructors then cover more advanced approaches to microeconomic theory, such as social preferences, behavior in the commons, market failures, risk and uncertainty, and we will review some recent literature.

This course introduces the foundational models and ideas of behavioral economics. Behavioral economics aims to increase the realism of standard economic models by accounting for more nuanced behaviors grounded in psychological and sociological insights. The goal is to better understand human decision making and to improve policy recommendations and welfare estimations in cases where traditional economic models fail to capture relevant behaviors. Applications tie to issues in environmental, food, energy and agricultural economics.

Students explore the use of lab and field experimental techniques and randomized controlled trials and their application to economic research. Instructors Introduce students to the classic experimental games and related literature that provide the foundation for ongoing experimental economics research. Material is introduced through hands-on participation in experiments and lectures. Students also conduct their own replication of previously published experiments and write-up results as a final research project for the course.

 

Graduate students

Natalie Baag

Hometown: Newark, Delaware
 

Research interests: Watching movies, trekking, traveling, Mandala art, listening to TED Talks and music

Hobbies: Reading, skiing, hiking, listening to music

Gifty Asantewaa Opoku

Hometown: Kumasi, Ghana
 

Research interests: Development economics, agricultural and natural eesource economics, international trade

Hobbies: Cooking, listening to music and spending time with family

Srabone Saha

Hometown: Sylhet, Bangladesh
 

Research interests: Consumer behavior, neuromarketing, behavioral economics, agri-business, fair trade, experimental economics, and sustainability

Hobbies: Watching movies, trekking, traveling, Mandala art, listening to TED Talks and music

Davidson Obilor Nwaonu

Hometown: Mbaise, Nigeria
 

Research interests: Climate Driven Consumer Choice Analysis, Development Economics, Rural Development and Policy

Hobbies: Surfing the Internet, Writing, Playing Soccer, Drinking Garri

Laura Taylor

Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland
 

Research interests: Sustainable development, environmental economics, consumer decision-making, climate change

Hobbies: Traveling, baking, listening to music, sports events, spending time with friends and family

Osmund Lupindu

Hometown: Kilosa, Morogoro, Tanzania
 

Research interests: Farmer's technology adoption

Hobbies: Soccer and music

Manisha Shrestha

Hometown: Nawalparasi, Lumbini, Nepal
 

Research interests: Agriculture technology adoption, agri-environmental policy, behavioral economics, climate change, agriculture and environmental economics

Hobbies: Cooking, traveling, listening to music, hiking

Md Abedur Rahman

Hometown: Khulna, Bangladesh
 

Research interests: Environmental economics, Economics of climate change, Agricultural, food and resource Economics

Hobbies: Travelling and fishing

Mitchell Stallman

Hometown: Amherst, New Hampshire
 

Research interests: The intersection of environmental and development economics, agri-environmental policy, ecological economics, feminist economics

Hobbies: Any outdoor activity, but mostly climbing and running, cooking delicious vegan meals, guitar

Ahamed Zakaria

Hometown: Dhaka, Bangladesh
 

Research interests: Non market valuation, Environmental quality assessment, climate change, human environment interaction

Hobbies: Soccer, playing video games

Faculty advisors

Agricultural and Resource Economics MS | Graduate Programs | University of Delaware
Agricultural and Resource Economics MS | Graduate Programs | University of Delaware
Agricultural and Resource Economics MS | Graduate Programs | University of Delaware
Agricultural and Resource Economics MS | Graduate Programs | University of Delaware
Agricultural and Resource Economics MS | Graduate Programs | University of Delaware
Agricultural and Resource Economics MS | Graduate Programs | University of Delaware
Agricultural and Resource Economics MS | Graduate Programs | University of Delaware
Agricultural and Resource Economics MS | Graduate Programs | University of Delaware
Agricultural and Resource Economics MS | Graduate Programs | University of Delaware
Research News
  • Larry Armstrong speaks at the podium

    Celebrating excellence in agriculture and natural resources

    May 16, 2024 | Written by Dante LaPenta
    As the spring semester headed into its final stretch run, the University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources gathered together to honor a few deserving faculty and staff. At the college’s Celebrating Excellence event, the 2024 stars of the show were Sue Barton, Larry Armstrong, and Kent Messer.
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small sits down with Blue Hen students, tours UD’s Newark Farm and laboratory facilities

    May 13, 2024 | Written by Dante LaPenta
    On her cross-country college tour of our nation’s land-grant universities, U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small toured the University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and sat down with Blue Hen students. UD faculty and staff showed off UD’s 350-acre Newark Farm and laboratory facilities. Torres Small conversed with students about opportunities for young people, what USDA is doing for the next generation of agriculture, and the benefits for people in every sector of agriculture, food, and forestry.
  • Advancing knowledge on wooden breast syndrome

    May 08, 2024 | Written by Katie Peikes | Photo by Michele Walfred
    University of Delaware researchers in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources have made a new discovery in their work on wooden breast syndrome in chickens. The UD team found white blood cells filled with fat surrounding broiler chickens’ veins and showing signs of swelling are key contributing factors to this muscle degeneration disease in these birds that can ultimately affect their meat quality.