Zach Raff

Zach Raff

Research Agricultural Economist
zachary.raff@usda.gov

Briefly

Zach Raff is a research agricultural economist in the Resource and Rural Economics Division's Conservation and Environment Branch at USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS). In general, his research uses causal identification methods to examine the benefits and costs of agri-environmental policy and the environmental impacts of land use decisions. Raff’s current body of work examines the relationship between livestock and the environment and the welfare consequences of different agri-environmental policy tools. He has published in peer-reviewed journals such as Journal of Public Economics, American Journal of Agricultural Economics, and Economic Inquiry.

Background

Raff joined USDA, ERS in August of 2023. Before joining USDA, ERS, Raff was an assistant and associate professor of economics at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Before receiving his Ph.D., Raff was an analyst at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency headquarters in the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.

Education

Ph.D., Economics, University of Kansas, 2016
M.A., Economics, University of Kansas, 2014
M.P.P., American University, 2012
B.S., Mathematics, Upper Iowa University, 2008