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Subhrendu K. Pattanayak

Oak Foundation Distinguished Professor of Environmental and Energy Policy
Sanford School of Public Policy
Box 90312, Durham, NC 27708-0312
124 Rubenstein Hall, Box 90312, Durham, NC 27708-0312

Overview


Subhrendu K. Pattanayak is the Oak Professor of Environmental and Energy Policy at Duke University. He studies the causes and consequences of human behaviors related to the natural environment to help design and evaluate policy interventions in low-income tropical countries. His research is in three domains at the intersection of environment, development, health and energy: forest ecosystem services, environmental health (diarrhea, malaria, respiratory infections) and household energy transitions. He has focused on design of institutions and policies that are motivated by enormous inequities and a range of efficiency concerns (externalities, public goods and imperfect information and competition).

Dr. Pattanayak approaches these problems through systematic reviews of the literature (meta-analyses) and statistical modeling with high-resolution objective data collected in the field. He then uses those data to test hypotheses salient to policy manipulation, developed both from economic frameworks, stakeholder discussions and direct observations in the field. He employs empirical methods that exploit quasi-experimental variation (or experiments where feasible and appropriate), captured through household, community and institutional surveys. He typically matches these survey data with meso-scale secondary statistics and estimates econometric models to generate policy parameters. Dr. Pattanayak has collaborated closely with multi-lateral agencies, NGOs, governments, and local academics in Brazil, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the U.S.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Oak Foundation Distinguished Professor of Environmental and Energy Policy · 2018 - Present Sanford School of Public Policy
Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy · 2013 - Present Sanford School of Public Policy
Professor in the Department of Economics · 2013 - Present Economics, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Professor of Environmental Science and Policy · 2013 - Present Environmental Sciences and Policy, Nicholas School of the Environment
Research Professor of Global Health · 2011 - Present Duke Global Health Institute, University Institutes and Centers
Affiliate of the Duke Center for International Development · 2023 - Present Duke Center for International Development, Sanford School of Public Policy
Faculty Research Scholar of DuPRI's Population Research Center · 2010 - Present Duke Population Research Center, Duke Population Research Institute

Education, Training & Certifications


Duke University · 1997 Ph.D.
Purdue University · 1992 M.S.
St. Stephen's College, Delhi (India) · 1990 B.A.