NM Economics Research Day will explore impacts of food insecurity, Mora fire, Westside growth and more

The University of New Mexico Department of Economics will highlight six different state-specific economic research projects during its annual New Mexico Economics Research Day, on Friday, Aug. 16 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. The free event will be held in person in the Economics building and via Zoom.

The Economic Research Day will include 15-minute presentations with short Q&As on six research projects funded by the New Mexico State Legislature. The presentations allow economic researchers to report back on the results of state-sponsored research.

"The event showcases economics research that addresses pressing issues in New Mexico, including water, wildfire, the transition to green energy, and food security, all of which impact economic development and well-being," Melissa Binder, chair of the Department of Economics, said.

This year's topics will explore the impacts of food insecurity, incorporation status on loss valuation, equity in solar panel installation and more. Projects include:

• Valuing Urban Greening using Hedonic Pricing: The Middle Rio Grande Valley in the Greater Albuquerque Area
• Is Food Insecurity a Good Measure of Dietary Quality in New Mexico?
• Pluriversal Economic Systems and the "Obligation to Incorporate": A Loss Valuation Review
• Heterogeneity in Price Elasticities of Urban Water Demand: The Case for Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Equity in Solar PV Adoption in New Mexico
• Economic Growth and Development of the Westside of Albuquerque

The Department of Economics funded 18 graduate student research fellowships over the summer for projects on topics in and outside of New Mexico. Poster presentations will take place before and after the faculty presentations. Graduate research topics range from Ghana's economic recovery post-Covid to the impact of beer taxes on alcohol-related traffic fatalities.

Economics Research Day is made possible in part through the support of the New Mexico State Legislature, which funded a Research and Public Service Project (RPSP) for economic research.

Register to attend on the Department of Economics website.