James R Meldrum, PhD
James Meldrum is an economist in the Social and Economic Analysis Branch at the Fort Collins Science Center. His primary research focus is measuring, modeling, and understanding human relationships with natural resources.
James' economics and applied social science work spans many areas of interest to the USGS and our federal and non-federal partners. His main research topics include measuring, modeling, and understanding human relationships with natural resources, especially through the lens of ecosystem services, and with natural hazards, especially focused on mitigating the risks of wildland fire. James is a founding member of the Wildfire Research (WiRē) Team, an interdisciplinary collaboration focused on coproducing science in support of community wildfire adaptedness and wildfire risk mitigation on private lands, and he is an active participant in numerous USGS- and DOI-wide communities of practice.
Research Interests
- Environmental economics
- Wildfire risk mitigation
- Ecosystem services
- Behavioral economics
Professional Experience
Research Economist; U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Colorado; June 2016 to present
Research Associate; University of Colorado Boulder, Institute of Behavioral Science (IBS) and Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES); 2012 to 2016
Policy Analysis Intern; National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Strategic Energy Analysis Center, Golden, Colorado; 2011 to 2012
Engineering Physicist; Stereotaxis, Inc., Systems Group, St. Louis, Missouri; 2005 to 2006
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 2012, University of Colorado Boulder Environmental Studies Program, focus on Environmental Economics
M.S. 2010, University of Colorado Boulder Environmental Studies Program, focus on Environmental Economics
B.S. 2005, Washington University in St. Louis School of Engineering and Applied Science, Primary major in Physics with a secondary major in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology
Science and Products
Living with wildfire in Ashland, Oregon: 2020 data report
Developing behavioral and evidence-based programs for wildfire risk mitigation
Living with wildfire in the Squilchuck Drainage - Chelan County, Washington: 2020 data report
Do actions speak louder than words? Comparing the effect of risk aversion on objective and self-reported mitigation measures
Paired stated preference methods for valuing management of white pine blister rust: order effects and outcome uncertainty
Sustaining Environmental Capital Initiative summary report
Economic effects of wildfire risk reduction and source water protection projects in the Rio Grande River Basin in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado
Interactions between resident risk perceptions and wildfire risk mitigation: Evidence from simultaneous equations modeling
Responding to risky neighbors: Testing for spatial spillover effects for defensible space in a fire-prone WUI community
Living with wildfire in Montezuma County, Colorado: 2015 data report
Living with wildfire in La Plata County, Colorado: 2015 data report
Living with wildfire in Archeluta County, Colorado: 2015 data report
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Living with wildfire in Ashland, Oregon: 2020 data report
Developing behavioral and evidence-based programs for wildfire risk mitigation
Living with wildfire in the Squilchuck Drainage - Chelan County, Washington: 2020 data report
Do actions speak louder than words? Comparing the effect of risk aversion on objective and self-reported mitigation measures
Paired stated preference methods for valuing management of white pine blister rust: order effects and outcome uncertainty
Sustaining Environmental Capital Initiative summary report
Economic effects of wildfire risk reduction and source water protection projects in the Rio Grande River Basin in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado
Interactions between resident risk perceptions and wildfire risk mitigation: Evidence from simultaneous equations modeling
Responding to risky neighbors: Testing for spatial spillover effects for defensible space in a fire-prone WUI community
Living with wildfire in Montezuma County, Colorado: 2015 data report
Living with wildfire in La Plata County, Colorado: 2015 data report
Living with wildfire in Archeluta County, Colorado: 2015 data report
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.