Research

Our research community in Agricultural, Environmental and Resource Economics includes over thirty members from professors to master's level students working together on different topics that all highlight the policy-relevance of economic research at the University of Helsinki.
Students and research

The teaching and courses in the Master's Programme in Agricultural, Environmental and Resource Economics (AGERE) are based on the latest research. The staff members are active researchers in their fields and teach courses close to their research topics. This means that we are able to discuss the state-of-the-art research results with you and can recruit you to our research community, projects and networks even before your graduation.

In the Environmental and Resource Economics study track, students have to possibility to deepen their understanding of environmental and resource economics by following our research track. The aim of this subtrack is to strengthen your substance and methodological skills to allow the possibility to advance faster during the post-graduate studies and to become a part of the Environmental and Resource Economics research community at the University of Helsinki.

The latest research in Agricultural Economics and Environmental and Resource Economics offers valuable insights into sustainable practices, resource management, and economic policies. These recent publications highlight innovative approaches and critical analyses that address pressing global challenges, providing a comprehensive understanding of the intersection between the environment and economic systems.

Research-based education

Teaching at the University of Helsinki is based on research and provided by researchers well-versed in their discipline, teaching the topics of their research.

In addition to relevant research-based knowledge, university education utilises diverse teaching and assessment methods promoting students’ learning, the development of scholarly thinking and the establishment of expertise.

From the beginning of their studies, students are part of the academic community. They get to familiarise themselves with the latest research. In many fields, students have the opportunity to complete their thesis in collaboration with research groups.

Research in Ag­ri­cul­tural Eco­nom­ics

If you want to know how to manage a farm successfully or how to design effective agricultural and food policies, agricultural economics is the right choice for you. 

We teach and study business management and economics applied to agriculture and primary food production. Our work is closely based on biological and technical possibilities. Our research aims at solving concrete problems. The topics of production economics and farm management as well as rural entrepreneurship provide knowledge and skills for management and leadership in agricultural farms and firms. The topics of agricultural policy show how effect of agricultural, rural and food policies can be analyzed. Functioning agricultural and food markets as well as international trade have become increasingly important topics. In addition, we study how to improve agricultural production and food security in developing countries, especially in Africa.

Examples of theses topics
  • Horizontal price transmission in dairy markets: Finland and major trading partners within the EU
  • Virtual reality value elicitation in land use sector - A feasible tool towards sustainable agriculture and forest land use in Finland?
  • Challenges in Implementing Climate Smart Agricultural practices in Zambia to enhance food security
  • Economic and environmental feasibility of catch crops in agriculture production
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis and Farmer’s Incentives Using Biochar on the Boreal Agricultural Soils.
  • Credit constraints in adopting rhizobial inoculation technology among smallholder soybean farmers in northern Ghana.
  • The potential of the insect frass as a biofertilizer in Finland.
  • Drivers and Barriers of Gypsum Treatment of Fields

All the theses can be found in the University of Helsinki Open Repository Helda.

Research in En­vir­on­mental and Re­source Eco­nom­ics

Our research in Environmental and Resource Economics covers a wide variety of topics such as fishery, forestry, agriculture, biodiversity and climate change.

Baltic Sea pro­tec­tion

We study economics, policies and governance related to the management and protection of marine resources in the Baltic Sea. Our approach is problem-oriented: we aim at elaborating cost-effective and doable solutions to marine pollution and consumption to safeguard sustained provision of marine ecosystem services also for the future generations. The topics include combatting eutrophication, management of fish stocks, and prevention of environmental hazards. 

Ongoing projects include:

  • Wellbeing from the Baltic Sea – applications combining natural science and economics (BONUS BalticAPP)
  • Coherent policies and governance of the Baltic Sea ecosystems
  • Fisheries management: MARine MAnagement and Ecosystem Dynamics under Climate Change (MARmaED) 

Main researcher: Professor Kari Hyytiäinen

Eco­nom­ics of natural re­sources

In this field we develop the economics of natural resources. The emphasis is in empirical and theoretical dynamic models for renewable resources, especially for forests, fisheries and reindeer populations. Main researcher: Professor Olli Tahvonen.

In­ter­na­tional fish­er­ies agree­ments

In this study field we examine how international fisheries agreements can be made stable in the long-run. We mainly apply coalition games (e.g. partition function games) to compute equilibrium cooperation structures. We take into account strategic interaction of different levels of decision making, international (country level) and national (fisher level). Stability of cooperation is an important field of study since it will improve both the economic benefits received from fishery and fish stock levels. Ongoing projects include: Fisheries management: MARine MAnagement and Ecosystem Dynamics under Climate Change (MARmaED). Main researcher: Dr. Marko Lindroos.

Environmental economics

Environmental economics group consists of four different teams focusing on multiple topics of environmental policies. They range from water protection to the issues of biodiversity conservation and climate change. Main researcher: Professor Markku Ollikainen.

More about the programme