College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics

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John Hoehn is Professor in the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics. His research draws on microeconomics, choice theory and the applied mathematics of optimization and economic modeling.  His research and grant activity has addressed leading edge topics in environmental economics, spatial economics, valuation, natural resource damage assessment and health hazards. 

His research findings are published in leading journals such as The American Economic Review, Journal of Regional Economics, International Review of Law and Economics, Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Journal of Agriculture and Resource Economics, Land Economics, Evaluation Review, Agriculture and Human Values, Journal of Environmental Management, Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, Agricultural Economics, American Journal of Agricultural Economics and many other journals and book publications. 

His research aims at improving the economic performance of environmental policies and helps to correct past errors and accidents.  His research in natural resource damage assessment supported significant environmental cleanup, restoration and legal judgments in the Exxon Valdez-Prince William sound oil spill, the DOJ-NOAA Blackbird Mine assessment, the Bunker Hill Mine-Coeur d’Alene River analysis and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Kalamazoo River assessment.

Dr. Hoehn works in and with many off-campus professional and government organizations.  He served as on the governing boards of both the Association of Environmental and Resource Economics and the American Association of Agricultural Economics, now known as the American Association of Applied Economics.  He has also served as Associate Editor for the American Journal of Agricultural Economics and the Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics.

His research consultancies work with the National Research Council, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Agency for International Development, the Organization of American States, U.S. Forest Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the US-Canada International Joint Commission, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and the States of Illinois, Washington, and Idaho. 

Dr. Hoehn advises and teaches students in the AFRE graduate master’s and Ph.D. programs.  His currently teaches AFRE 801, Mathematical Applications in Economics and AFRE 805, Microeconomic Analysis.  Courses taught in previous years include offerings in environmental economics, research methods and the logic of scientific inquiry.  The latter courses include AFRE 923 Advanced Environmental and Resource Economics, AEC 925 Environmental and Resource Economics Research, AEC 978 Research Methodology in Agricultural Economics, AEC 991F Methodological Approaches to Research, AEC 991H, Environmental Economics Research, AEC 891, Writing for Professional Publications, and AEC 429 Resource Economics. 

Dr. Hoehn is active in the MSU and global university community.  On campus, he was Chairperson, Graduate Specialization in Environmental and Resource Economics; Chairperson, AgBioResearch W-133, Western Regional Research Committee on Natural Resource Benefits and Costs; member, Environmental Science and Policy Program; member, MSU Faculty Senate; and member of the AEC Departmental Advisory Committee as well as many other College and Departmental committees.  Dr. Hoehn is also active in networking with researchers around the globe, with presentations include at academic and policy venues across the United States, North and South America, Africa and Europe.

Dr. Hoehn enjoys time with family and friends.  He also enjoys renaissance art, reading history and investigating historical and archaeological sites, lake swimming, hiking mountain trails, coral reef and wreck diving and restoring historical farm acreage and habitat. 

Research and Outreach Interests

• Mathematical applications in microeconomics, choice and pricing systems.
• Estimation methods for benefits, costs and changes in well-being.
• Satisfactory decision making with limited information and cognition.
• Spatial differences in wages, housing prices and nonmarket amenities.