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| NOAA Economics and Social Sciences Branch | |
|---|---|
| Name | NOAA Economics and Social Sciences Branch |
| Type | Scientific branch |
| Parent organization | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
NOAA Economics and Social Sciences Branch The NOAA Economics and Social Sciences Branch integrates economic analysis and social science methods to inform National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration policy, resource management, and hazard resilience efforts. The branch provides interdisciplinary guidance to agencies such as the National Weather Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research while collaborating with academic institutions like University of California, Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Stanford University. Its work supports decision-making for stakeholders including the U.S. Department of Commerce, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and regional entities such as the Pacific Island Forum.
The branch synthesizes studies on valuation, vulnerability, and behavior to quantify benefits relevant to programs administered by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It conducts applied analyses tied to statutes such as the Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, Endangered Species Act, and Coastal Zone Management Act, informing rulemaking linked to agencies like the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and multilateral efforts exemplified by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Core outputs are used by organizations including The World Bank, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
The branch evolved from social science units established within National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in response to directives from administrations including those of Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter that shaped environmental institutions such as the Environmental Protection Agency. Development accelerated following events like Hurricane Katrina and policy shifts driven by reports from bodies like the National Research Council and commissions chaired by figures such as John Holdren. Partnerships with academic centers including University of Washington, University of Miami, and Duke University contributed to methodological advances adopted after workshops hosted by Brookings Institution and Resources for the Future.
The branch operates within NOAA’s Office of Policy and the NOAA Research Council, coordinating with program offices like the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service and regional offices such as the Northeast Fisheries Science Center. Leadership has liaised with officials from the U.S. Department of Commerce and advisory panels including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Science Advisory Board; collaborators and guest researchers have come from institutions like Princeton University, Yale University, Columbia University, and University of California, Los Angeles. International engagement connects to organizations such as United Nations Environment Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization, and regional bodies including the European Commission.
Major programs address valuation of ecosystem services, benefit–cost analysis for regulatory actions under statutes like the Clean Air Act and Coastal Zone Management Act, social vulnerability assessments demonstrated after events such as Superstorm Sandy, and fisheries economics relevant to North Atlantic Treaty Organization-adjacent maritime policy dialogues. Research portfolios include collaborations on climate impacts aligned with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessments, disaster resilience projects with Federal Emergency Management Agency and United States Geological Survey, and socioeconomic studies supporting the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Methodological toolkits used by the branch draw from revealed preference approaches applied in studies connected to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration coastal valuation, stated preference surveys analogous to literature from National Bureau of Economic Research, and econometric techniques prevalent at institutions like London School of Economics. Data resources include integrations of datasets from National Centers for Environmental Information, National Climatic Data Center, fisheries catch records aligned with International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, and social datasets comparable to those maintained by U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics. The branch leverages modeling frameworks developed in partnerships with NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory and academic centers such as Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
The branch maintains formal partnerships with federal agencies including Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Geological Survey, and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management; academic partnerships with Oregon State University, University of Alaska Fairbanks, and University of Rhode Island; and international cooperation with entities like World Meteorological Organization. Stakeholder engagement processes have involved state agencies, tribal governments such as Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, non-governmental organizations including The Nature Conservancy and National Audubon Society, and industry partners represented by associations like the American Petroleum Institute and regional fisheries councils.
Applied work has influenced regulatory impact analyses for measures under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and contributed to post-disaster economic assessments after Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Katrina. Case studies include benefit transfer applications to coastal restoration projects in the Gulf of Mexico, valuation studies informing fisheries management in the North Atlantic Ocean, and socioeconomic analyses used in climate adaptation planning in partnerships with entities such as City of New York and State of Louisiana. Outputs inform international assessments such as those by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and development programs supported by The World Bank.
The branch publishes technical memoranda, peer-reviewed articles in journals read by scholars at American Economic Association conferences, and guidance used in agency rulemaking cited by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Outreach includes workshops with partners such as Resources for the Future, presentations at conferences like the Society for Benefit-Cost Analysis, and training programs in collaboration with institutions including NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory and universities such as University of Florida.