Rick teaches natural resource economics. His research interests are in the areas of environmental and natural resource economics management and policy design.  In particular, he concentrates on understanding feedbacks between economic and ecological systems and how these affect management opportunities.  Rick is an Associate Editor for the American Journal of Agricultural Economics (2008-2011) and for Natural Resource Modeling (2007-), and he is on the editorial board of Resource and Energy Economics (2007-).

Professional Interests

• Bioeconomics
• Management of endangered and threatened species and ecosystems
• The co-evolution of economic and ecological systems
• Prevention and control of invasive alien species
• Infectious disease in wildlife
• Agricultural pollution and conservation

Selected Publications

Horan, R.D., C.A. Wolf, E.P. Fenichel, and K.H. Mathews, Jr., “Joint Management of Wildlife and Livestock Disease”, Environmental and Resource Economics, in press.

Horan, R.D., J.F. Shogren, and B. Gramig, “Wildlife Conservation Payments to Address Habitat Fragmentation and Disease Risks”, Environment and Development Economics, in press.

Fenichel, E.P., and R.D. Horan (2007), “Gender-Based Harvesting in Wildlife Disease Management”, American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 89: 904-920.

Horan, R.D. and E.P. Fenichel (2007), “Economics and Ecology of Managing Emerging Infectious Animal Diseases”, American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 89(5), in press.

Horan, R.D., and R. Claassen (2007), “Targeting Green Payments under a Budget Constraint”, Land Economics, in press.

Fenichel, E.P. and R.D. Horan (2007), “Jointly-Determined Ecological Thresholds and Economic Tradeoffs in Wildlife Disease Management”, Natural Resource Modeling, 20: 511-547.

Horan, R.D., and R. Claassen (2007), “Targeting Green Payments under a Budget Constraint”, Land Economics, 83: 319-330.

Bulte, E.H., R.D. Horan, and J.F. Shogren (2006), “The Economics of Pleistocene Megafauna Extinction: Early Humans and the Overkill Hypothesis” Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 59: 297-323.

Horan, R.D., C.A. Wolf, E.P. Fenichel, and K. Mathews, Jr. (2005),  “Spatial Management of Wildlife Disease.”  Review of Agricultural Economics, 27: 483-490.

Horan, R.D., E.H. Bulte, and J.F. Shogren (2005), “How Trade Saved Humanity from Biological Exclusion: An Economic Theory of Neanderthal Extinction”.  Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 58: 1-29.

Horan, R.D. and C.A. Wolf (2005), “The Economics of Managing Infectious Wildlife Disease.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 87: 537-551.

Horan, R.D. and J.S. Shortle (2005), “When Two Wrongs Make a Right: Second-Best Point-Nonpoint Trading Ratios.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 87(2): 340-352.

Horan, R.D., and F. Lupi (2005), “Tradeable Risk Permits to Prevent Future Introductions of Invasive Alien Species in the Great Lakes.” Ecological Economics, 52(3): 289-304.

Horan, R.D. and E.H. Bulte (2004), “Optimal and Open Access Harvesting of Multi-Use Species in a Second-Best World.” Environmental and Resource Economics, 28(3): 251-272.

Bulte, E.H., R.D. Horan, and J.F. Shogren (2003), “Elephants: Comment.” American Economic Review, 93(4): 1437-1445.

Bulte, E.H., C. Mason, and R.D. Horan (2003), “Betting on Extinction: Endangered Species and Speculation.” Land Economics, 79: 460-471.

Bulte, E.H. and R.D. Horan (2003). “Habitat Conservation, Wildlife Extraction, and Agricultural Expansion.” Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 45: 109-127.

Horan, R.D. (2001). “Differences in Social and Public Risk Perceptions and Conflicting Impacts on Point/Nonpoint Trading Ratios.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 83: 934-941.

Horan, R.D., J.S. Shortle, and D.G. Abler (1998). “Ambient Taxes when Polluters Have Multiple Choices.” Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 36: 186-199.

Funded Research Projects

• “Bioeconomics of Managing Multi-Host Diseases”, Economic Research Service, USDA.
• “Bioeconomics of Managing Pathogens in Multi-Host, Livestock-Wildlife Systems”, National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program, USDA.