Jobs in Ecological Economics

by Scott Thompson

Ecological economists apply issues of sustainability, depletion of resources and environmental impact to classical economic theories focused on concepts of supply, demand and profit. Graduates of ecological economy programs work for government agencies, nongovernmental organizations and private companies to advise them on the ecological risks and benefits of proposed developments.

Environmental and Ecological Economists

Environmental and ecological economics are closely related but not quite identical fields. Environmental economists usually focus more on the concerns of human beings whose environment is affected by economic forces, while ecological economists focus on the quantifiable impact of economic activity on environmental conditions. For example, if a company constructs a factory that pollutes the water supply of a town downriver, an environmental economist would concentrate on the affect of the polluted water on the inhabitants of the town, while an ecological economist would focus on the affect on the river, water quality, and fish populations. Despite the traditional focus of ecological economists on the biophysical affects of economic activity, the European Society for Ecological Economics has committed to incorporating cultural and social concerns in its work.

Careers in Ecological Economics

A number of colleges offer courses in ecological economics, but not many offer degrees in the discipline as of this writing. The University of Edinburgh in Scotland does offer a master's degree as well as a doctorate in ecological economics, and graduates of this program work for employers such as the World Bank, BP, Jacobs Engineering Consultants, Vertis Environmental Finance, the UK Forestry Commission, the New Economics Foundation and in academia. Ecological economists who obtain doctorates often work as researchers and instructors at the university level.

What Ecological Economists Do

The primary task of an ecological economist is to calculate the ecological risks and costs of a proposed project and weigh them against the likely economic benefits. For instance, BP employs ecological economists to analyze natural gas projects in the Sahara, at the North Sea oil platforms, and in its legal and regulatory compliance office. Ecological economists who work for consulting firms may conduct analyses of the likely environmental benefits of a sustainable development project versus the potential economic risks.

Career Prospects

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not provide a separate career profile for ecological economists or environmental economists. However, the BLS lists a mean salary of $89,450 for economists of all types as of 2010, with a salary of $109,720 for economists working in the areas of scientific research or development and $93,250 for economists performing scientific consulting services. The projected growth rate of this profession is six percent through 2020 according to the BLS. This is slower than the average for all professions, but the University of Edinburgh Ecological Economics program reports that its alumni have done well despite the global financial crisis of 2008.

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