Recording PAEP Webinar - What good is the economist? May 7, 2024

An Economist, a chemist and a engineer are stranded on a desert island: what good is the economist? 
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
at 12:00 (Noon) Eastern

•  Because no one should be forced to listen to a talk about economics for 50 minutes, this talk will focus on three economics-adjacent topics. First, why do economists want to discount the future and what implications do their choices about discounting have on the global issues of our day? Secon, what is environmental justice and why won’t it go away? Third, why can’t economists ever just tell me what something is worth: a primer on social benefit cost analysis? The goal of the discussion will be to provide some insight into the inner workings of an economist’s mind and, perhaps, to illustrate how economists can occasionally be useful.  

Presenter:   Dr. Jeffrey Wakefield is formally trained in Economics, Marine Biology, and Biochemistry. He has over 20 years of experience conducting social benefit/cost analysis, financial assurance, and resource damage assessments.  Throughout those 20 years, his goal has been to help policymakers and stakeholders make decisions that consider all dimensions of a problem. 

 Note: Registration is for one entrant. Any other individuals who would like to view this session are required to complete their own registration forms. The registration fee is set per person, not per connection.

“The Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Professionals aims to promote environmental education, research, planning, assessment, review, and management through the formation and operation of a nonpolitical multidisciplinary professional society.” The content of our webinar series is not developed by PAEP, but by the presenters themselves.