Makena Coffman, PhD Economics

Assistant Professor, Department of Urban and Regional Planning
Office Location: Saunders 107D
Phone Number: (808) 956-2890
Email: makenaka@hawaii.edu

Overview:

Specializes in regional economy-environment modeling with expertise in energy policy

Teaches courses in Environmental Planning: Climate Change, Energy and Food Security in the Asia/Pacific Region, Environmental Valuation & Policy, Economics for Planners, Statistics, & Energy Policy

Current research includes assessing optimal mixes of renewable energies and energy efficiency programs to reach the Hawai`i Clean Energy Initiative goal of 40% renewable energy and 30% energy efficiency by 2030

BA in International Relations from Stanford University, minor in Economics

PhD in Economics from the University of Hawaii at Manoa

Appointments & Affiliations:

Research Fellow, University of Hawai`i Economic Research Organization

Affiliate Faculty, UHM Public Policy Center and the Matsunaga Institue of Peace

Founding board member of Kanu Hawaii

Appointed Member of State Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Task Force; Chair of the Analysis Committee

Member of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative Working Group on Transportation

Teaching:

Courses include Environmental Planning: Climate Change in the Asia-Pacific Region, Environmental Valuation & Policy, Energy Policy, and Planning Methods.

PLAN 603: Economic Analysis for Planners; Economic tools for planners including issues of public finance, market failure, and provision of public goods.

PLAN 601: Planning Methods; Analysis & Research methods in planning including problem definition, research design, survey research, statistics and computer applications.

PLAN 620: Environmental Policies and Programs; Survey of the political, institutional, economic and scientific aspects of national & state-level environmental policies and programs.

PLAN 625: Environmental Planning: Climate Change in the Asia/Pacific Region; this course is offered in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Initiative (API), which coordinates through video-conference with universities throughout the Asia-Pacific region. It explores environmental planning from a holistic perspective using Climate Change as a cross-cutting theme.

PLAN 661 Fall 2009: Collaboration between Sectors; Examine theories and practices of multi-sector collaboration (public, private, nonprofit) for environmental solutions. The use of collaboration as an alternative way of solving environmental/public problems.

PLAN 751 Spring 2009: Planning Practicum; “Biofuels in Hawaii: The Intersection between Land-Use Planning, Agricultural Policy, and Hawaii’s Energy Future,” This practicum included a two-part study of the future of biofuels in Hawaii to both inform the State Master Plan as well as provide specific insight into the community of Hamakua on Hawaii Island. The students conducted primary research in Hawaii Island during March, 2009. The report was made public via The Kohala Center.

Advising:

Student advising in areas of environmental planning relating to management of natural resources and environmental impacts (ex: energy, fisheries, shoreline management, low carbon building, and transportation strategies).

Research:

Greenhouse gas reduction strategies; Sustainability Planning; Computable General Equilibrium Modeling

Selected Publications & Reports:

Coffman, M., Griffin, J., and Bernstein, P. (forthcoming). “An Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Emissions-Weighted Clean Energy Standards”, Energy Policy, accepted 1/31/12

Coffman, M., Noy, I., (forthcoming). “Hurricane Iniki: Measuring the Long-Term Economic Impacts of a Natural Disaster Using Synthetic Control,” Environment and development Economics, Cambrige University Press Online First, DOI:10.1017/S1355770X11000350.

Coffman, M., Noy, I., (2010). "A Hurricane Hits Hawai‘i: A Tale of Vulnerability to Natural Disasters," CESifo Forum 11(2): 67-72.

Kauai Economic Development Board Agricultural Conference 2010. Luncheon Keynote Address. August 6, 2010.

Coffman, M. (2009). “University Leadership in Island Climate Mitigation,” International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education 10(3): 239-249.

Coffman, M., Umemoto, K. (2009). “The Triple-Bottom-Line: Framing of Tradeoffs in Sustainability Planning Practice,” Environment, Development and Sustainability. DOI 10.1007/s10668-009-9213-4.

Coffman, M. (2009). “Hawai`i Bioenergy Master Plan: Economic Impacts,” written as part of the State of Hawai`i Bioenergy Master Plan, Hawai`i Natural Energy Institute, commissioned by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Coffman, M. (2009). “Climate Change Mitigation and the Environmental Review System: an appropriate mechanism for greenhouse gas emissions reporting?” A White Paper for the Hawai`i EIS Study.

Coffman, M. (2008). “Concepts in Greenhouse Gas Regulation: A Primer on Meeting ACT 234,” A Publication of the University of Hawai`i Economic Research Organization (UHERO), September 29.

Coffman, M. (2008). “An Overview of U.S. Regional and National Climate Change Mitigation Strategies: Lessons for Hawai`i,” A Publication of the University of Hawai`i Economic Research Organization (UHERO), August 25.

Coffman, M. (2008). “Oil Price Shocks and Hawai`i’s Economy: An Analysis of the Oil-Price Macroeconomy Relationship,” Annals of Regional Science. DOI 10.1007/s00168-008-0271-6.

Coffman, M., Surles, T., and Konan, D. (2007). “Analysis of the Impact of Petroleum Prices on the State of Hawai`i’s Economy,” prepared for the State of Hawai`i Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.