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Joe Cook

Joe Cook
Professor 509-335-3817 0203A Academic Faculty Office 2020 NE Wilson Rd.

Fields of Interest

  • Water policy
  • Development economics
  • Water resource economics
  • Non-market valuation
  • Benefit-cost analysis
  • Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
  • Stormwater and Green Infrastructure

Education

  • Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 2007
  • M.S., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 2004
  • B.S., Cornell University, 1996

Academic Appointments

  • Professor, School of Economic Sciences, WSU, August 2023-current.  Associate Professor, Fall 2017-Aug 2023.
  • Associate Professor (with tenure), Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 2013-2017. Assistant Professor, 2007 – 2013.

Selected Current Honors, Affiliations, Editorial & Service Positions

  • PLoS Water, Academic Editor (2025- )
  • EfD Policy Impact Award, 2024.
  • Excellence in Teaching Award (University of Washington, student-awarded): 2010-11 and 2015-16
  • Dean’s Excellence in Teaching Award (University of Washington), 2013
  • Bruce Gardner Memorial Prize for Applied Policy Analysis, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, 2016, for “Benefit-cost analyses of the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan Projects”.

Teaching Assignments

  • EconS 198 Economics Honors
  • EconS 101 Principles of Microeconomics
  • EconS 301 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory with Calculus
  • EconS 581 Resource Economics (doctoral)
  • At UW Evans School (all Masters level): Benefit-Cost Analysis, Water Resource Economics, Water and Sanitation Policy in Developing Countries, Intermediate Microeconomics

Working Papers

Cook, J., M. Jeuland, M. Chandrasekaran and D. Whittington. The value of time in low- and middle-income countries.  Book project under contract from Oxford University Press.

Deol, S., G. Yorgey, J. Yoder, K. Rajagopalan, M. Brady, D. Haller, J. Padowski, and J. Cook. “Water management technology, regulation, and market perspectives among Washington State irrigators”. Revised and resubmitted, J Am Water Resour Assoc

Fuente, D., J. Cook, J. Gitu, M. Mwaura, and R. Mulwa. “Improving payment for essential services: a field experiment in Nairobi, Kenya”. Under review. Study registration here.

 Cook, J. and W. Sugiarto. “Measuring consumer demand for Salmon Safe tires”.  Working paper. Study registration, data and pre-analysis plan here. Revising to resubmit, Marine Resource Economics.

Sinha, S., R. Carson, J. Cook and D. Whittington. “Assessing preferences for reforming water subsidy eligibility rules in Delhi” Under review.

Fuente, D., R. Mulwa, M. Mwaura, J. Gitu and J. Cook. “Forgive us our sins – experimental evidence on arrears forgiveness and bill payment in Nairobi, Kenya.”  Under review.

Recent

M.T. Randriamaro and J. Cook. 2026. “Income redistribution, water scarcity and water rates in the 225 largest US cities.” Journal of Water Economics. Working paper at http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.30743.59041

Brent, D.A., D. Wrenn, G. Lara, and J. Cook. 2025. “Peer effects in residential green infrastructure adoption.” , J Assoc of Env. and Res. Economists (JAERE), in press.

Khan, R. A, M. Brady, B. Singh, M. Yourek, J. Yoder, J. Cook, G. Yorgey, and K. Rajagopalan. 2025. “Concurrent irrigation pauses can create stream flow pulses for fish during critical low-flow periods.” Water Resources Research. 

Basu, R., M. Brady, J. Cook, J. Gifford, K. Rajagopalan, and J. Yoder. 2025. “An agent-based model for assessing agricultural water market structure and function.” Water Resources Economics, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wre.2025.100267 

Cook, J., J. Kabubo-Mariara and Peter Kimuyu. 2024. “The short-run impacts of reducing water collection times on time use, well-being and education in rural Kenya”. Economic Development and Cultural Change, 73(1). Working paper. Data and replication code here.

Fuente, D., R. Mulwa, and J. Cook. 2023. “Out of Sight Out of Mind : Household Perceptions of ‘ Fair ’ Water Prices in Nairobi , Kenya.” Water Resources Research 59(e2022WR033374). EfD Discussion Paper version.

Extension and Outreach

My extension program focuses on providing local and state policymakers with timely, evidence-based information on issues around water and stormwater. I use non-market valuation and survey-based approaches as well as benefit-cost analysis to analyze policy and behavioral solutions to water issues, especially as they pertain to stormwater management but also water resources and water markets.  Because many policy solutions and infrastructure investments for both water scarcity and water quality involve additional ratepayer costs, I also provide applied research and evidence-based advice for utilities in designing assistance programs to ensure that their poorest customers can afford modern water and sanitation services.

Extension Websites

Extension Media and Blogposts

Extension Advisory Services

  • Member, Stormwater Strategic Initiative Lead Advisory Team (SIAT). Provides expert opinion and recommendations to the Stormwater Strategic Initiative Lead Team (SIL) to develop implementation strategies, review recovery plans, and policy recommendations for Puget Sound recovery. 2022-
  • Section Editor for Stormwater Policy & Management, Oxford Encyclopedia of Water, Sanitation, and Global Health. 2018-2022
  • Member, Washington State Academy of Sciences (WSAS) Committee to advise the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife on fish hatchery reform. 2018-2019