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Ph.D. Candidate · Economics · Colorado State University

Environmental & Energy Economics

I study how policy design shapes behavior and environmental outcomes, with work on wildfires, tourism, and clean technology adoption.

CV (PDF) Job Market Paper (PDF)

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About

My name is Thomas Gifford (he/him) and I am a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in economics at Colorado State University. I’ve been studying economics for nearly a decade, first earning my B.A. in Economics from Colorado College (2018) and an M.A. in Economics from the University of Denver (2021). In addition to teaching at CSU, I work with the Center for the New Energy Economy (CNEE), where I help provide policymakers with research-based insights to support an equitable and economically responsible transition to clean energy.

My research is focused on using microeconomic tools to better understand and design effective, equitable policy responses to contemporary environmental challenges, ranging from disaster mitigation and recovery to the adoption of electric vehicles and the broader shift toward clean energy.

When I’m not studying economics, I’m usually exploring Colorado with my wife, Bobbi. Whether it’s hiking with our dog, Patches, biking around Fort Collins, or skiing at A‑Basin, I try to spend as much time outdoors as possible. We also love going to concerts and trying new restaurants whenever we get the chance.

Research

Published Works

Refereed Journal Articles

  • Gifford, T.C. and Barbier, E.B. Commuting time, charging infrastructure, and electric vehicle adoption for sustainable transportation: A case study of Washington State. Sustainability, Accepted October 24, 2025. DOI: 10.3390/su17219591

Refereed Reports

  • Gifford, T.C. and Barbier, E.B. “Battle Scars: Trends in Wildfire Size and Impact across Colorado.” REDI Report, Regional Economic Development Institute (REDI), Colorado State University, March 2025. Read report

Submitted Journal Articles

  • Gifford, T.C. and Barbier, E.B. The Role of Charging Infrastructure and Income on Electric Vehicle Adoption. Energy Policy, R&R.

Working Papers

  • Long-Term Effects of Large Wildfires on Tourism Spending in Colorado (with Edward Barbier and Jude Bayham)
  • Fire and Water: Long-Term Economic Impacts of Wildfire on Local Drinking Water Quality
  • Effectiveness of State Incentive Programs at Increasing Electric Vehicle Adoption: A Behavioral Perspective
  • Understanding the Effects of Legalized Mobile Sports Betting on Mental Health (with Luke Maddock)
Read Job Market Paper (Working Draft) Gifford CV View REDI Report

Teaching

Teaching Experience

Primary Instructor

  • 2024–2025: ECON 202: Principles of Microeconomics (×6); Colorado State University
    • Designed and delivered lectures, created assignments, and evaluated student performance.
    • Led multiple large sections of Principles courses (200–350+ students), ensuring efficient, accessible, and equitable instruction.
    • Taught accelerated online sections during the summers of 2024 and 2025, adapting course materials and engagement strategies for a condensed virtual format.

Teaching Assistant

  • 2021–2024: Principles of Microeconomics (×6), Behavioral Economics (×2); Colorado State University
    • Led recitation sessions, provided grading support, and assisted students during office hours.
    • Delivered guest lectures as needed and filled in for the primary instructor during scheduled absences.
    • Designed and facilitated in-class experiments in Behavioral Economics to illustrate key concepts and encourage active learning.

Guest Lectures

  • ECON 316: Behavioral Economics (Fall 2023), Colorado State University — Delivered two lectures covering hyperbolic discounting, the role of salience in decision making, and the endowment effect.
  • ECON 101: Economics of Social Issues (Fall 2024), Colorado State University — Gave a guest lecture on the legalization of sports gambling and its potential effects on young people.

Media Mentions

Denver7
TV Segment · August 2025
Report finds Colorado wildfires are larger, more frequent and increasingly unpredictable
Link
Colorado Public Radio (CPR News)
Featured Expert · August 29, 2025
Colorado wildfires are bigger, burning faster
Link
Kiowa County Press
Interview · August 2025
Report: Colorado wildfires bigger, more frequent
Link
The Source at CSU
Feature Interview · August 2025
Colorado wildfires have become larger, more unpredictable
Link
CBS4 Denver
Feature Interview · August 2025
Why wildfires are getting larger, more unpredictable in Colorado
Link

Education

  • Colorado State University
    Ph.D. in Economics
    Aug 2021 – May 2026 (expected)
  • University of Denver
    M.A. in Economics
    Aug 2019 – May 2021
  • Colorado College
    B.A. in Economics
    Aug 2014 – May 2018

Honors and Awards

  • 2025: Finalist for the Stephan Weiler Award for Research Excellence in Regional/Rural Development
  • 2025: Diana Wall Sustainability Leadership Fellowship, School of Global Environmental Sustainability, Colorado State University
  • 2024: Ozawa Graduate Scholarship – Department of Economics, Colorado State University
  • 2021–2024: Graduate Teaching Assistant – Department of Economics, Colorado State University
  • 2024–2026: Graduate Teaching Instructor – Department of Economics, Colorado State University
  • 2019–2021: College of Liberal Arts Graduate Scholarship, University of Denver

Contact

Best way to reach me is by email. I’m happy to share draft work upon request.