Steven Sexton

Sexton holds a Ph.D. in environmental and resource economics from UC Berkeley and is assistant professor of public policy and economics at Duke University. He is also a faculty fellow of the Duke University Energy Initiative. His research focuses on energy industry organization and energy policy, as well as environmental and transportation policy, particularly as they pertain to carbon emissions reductions. Relying on econometric methods and insights from behavioral economics, Sexton has evaluated air pollution control policy, policy for rooftop solar technology adoption, the environmental impacts of local foods and genetically engineered crops, and household electricity consumption. Current areas of interest include shale resource development and renewable technology adoption. His research is published in leading economics and environmental economics journals, including Review of Economics and Statistics, Journal of Economic Perspectives, and Journal of Environmental Economics and Management. His research has been featured by U.S. and international media outlets, including The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, National Public Radio, Der Spiegel, The Australian, Freakonomics.com, Elle Australia, and Men’s Health. A past contributor to the Freakonomics blog, he is a former Executive Fellow in the Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Education

Ph.D., University of California at Berkeley (2012)

M.S., University of California at Berkeley (2009)

A.B., University of California at Berkeley (2004)