Economic Frameworks
Develop economic frameworks and tools that place decarbonization at the center of policymaking.
The rapid decarbonization of the economy presents both urgent challenges and important opportunities for shared prosperity, security, and equity. Yet current economic policy frameworks are not well suited to manage this complexity, too often treating decarbonization as a cost rather than a pathway to growth.
Kleinman Center researchers address this gap by developing economic frameworks and tools that place decarbonization at the center of policymaking. We explore how climate risks, clean energy investments, and the dynamics of low-carbon transitions shape economic outcomes, and we work to integrate climate and energy data into forecasting and decision-making. Our goal is to equip policymakers with actionable strategies that treat decarbonization as an engine of economic stability and growth.
Faculty Leadership
Heather Boushey
Professor of PracticeHeather Boushey is a professor of practice at the Kleinman Center. Boushey served in the Biden administration as a member of the Council of Economic Advisers and chief economist to the President’s Investing in America cabinet.
EconClimate Lab
The EconClimate Lab embraces decarbonization policies as a strategic opportunity for shared economic growth and national security. To enable policymakers to respond to the complexity that the climate crisis demands, this lab is building an interdisciplinary community of practice for economists across the field and energy experts. This community is building a new economic tool toolkit that meets the moment and asks questions focused on outcomes optimal for people and places.
‘We’re All Climate Economists Now’
With climate change affecting everything from household finances to electric grids, the profession is increasingly focused on how society can mitigate carbon emissions and cope with their impact.
