Faculty | APEC
Arthur Caplan

Applied Economics
Environmental Economics, Applied Microeconomics
Contact Information
Office Hours: By Appointment
Go toOffice Location: AGRS 230
DialPhone: 435-797-0775
SendEmail: arthur.caplan@usu.edu
Educational Background
Biography
Arthur J. Caplan is Professor of Economics in the Department of Applied Economics at Utah State University. He earned his Ph D. degree in Economics from the University of Oregon in 1996. Since that time, he has taught courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels in microeconomics, environmental economics, public policy, and quantitative analysis. His research has investigated a broad range of predominantly environmental issues, with a focus on the control of transboundary pollution problems, non-market valuation of waste management alternatives, water quality trading, and water conservation.
Teaching Interests
Research Interests
Awards
Researcher of the Year, 2008
Department of Economics, Utah State UniversityResearcher of the Year, 2008
Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, Utah State UniversityFinalist for Bill E. Robins Faculty Researcher of the Year Award, 2008
Utah State UniversityHuntsman School of Business Researcher of the Year Award, 2008
Department of Economics Researcher of the Year Award, Utah State University, 2007
Fulbright Scholars Award, 2007
U.S. Fulbright ProgramFulbright Scholars Award, 2007
U.S. Fulbright Scholars ProgramDepartment of Economics Researcher of the Year Award, 2006
Utah State UniversityResearcher of the Year, 2006
Department of Economics, Utah State UniversityDepartment of Economics Researcher of the Year Award, Utah State University, 2004
Researcher of the Year Award, 2004
Department of Economics, Utah State UniversitySummer Research Awards, 2000
John B. Goddard School of Business and Economics (3), Weber State UniversityPacificorp's Earth Stewart's Award, 1999
Weber State UniversityResearch, Scholarship, and Professional Growth (RSPG) Awards (5), 1999
Weber State UniversitySummer Research Awards, 1999
John B. Goddard School of Business and Economics (3), Weber State UniversityPacificorp's Earth Stewart's Award, 1999
Research, Scholarship, and Professional Growth (RSPG) Awards (5), 1998
Weber State UniversitySummer Research Awards, 1998
John B. Goddard School of Business and Economics (3), Weber State UniversityResearch, Scholarship, and Professional Growth (RSPG) Awards (5), 1997
Weber State UniversitySummer Research Awards, 1997
John B. Goddard School of Business and Economics (3), Weber State UniversitySummer Research Awards, 1997
Research, Scholarship, and Professional Growth (RSPG) Awards (5), 1996
Weber State UniversityResearch, Scholarship & Professional Growth (RSPG) Awards, 1996
Departmental Teaching Award for Graduate Teaching Fellows, 1995
University of OregonDept Teaching Award, 1995
Kleinsorge Summer Research Fellowship, 1994
University of OregonKleinsorge Summer Research Fellowship, 1993
University of OregonKleinsorge Summer Research Fellowship, 1993
Dean's Award for Enterprising Students, 1981
University of MichiganVice-President's Award for Outstanding Students, 1981
University of MichiganDean's Award for Enterprising Students, 1981
Vice President's Award for Outstanding Students, 1981
Publications - Abstracts
Publications - Books & Book Chapters
- Finnoff, D., Caplan, A.J, (2011). Bioeconomics and International Trade: The Case of the Great Salt Lake, Utah: New Development in Computable General Equilibrium Analysis for Trade Policy. Emerald Group Publishing
- Caplan, A.J, Finnoff, D., (2011). Bioeconomics and International Trade: The Case of the Great Salt Lake, Utah. Frontiers in Economics and Globalization, Volume 7, Emerald Group Publishing *
- Caplan, A.J, Silva, E.C, (2005). Equitable and Efficient International Schemes to Control Carbon Dioxide Emissions." In The Political Economy of Policy Reform: Essays in Honor of J. Michael Finger, Douglas Nelson (ed.). Contributions to Economic Analysis, Elsevier Inc.
- Caplan, A.J, Silva, E.C, (2005). Equitable and Efficient International Schemes to Control Carbon Dioxide Emissions. The Political Economy of Policy Reform: Essays in Honor of J. Michael Finger, Elsevier Inc. *
- Caplan, A.J, (2002). Poverty and Access to Health Care: An Academic Service Learning Project in Economics.Putting the Invisible Hand to Work: Concepts and Models for Service Learning in Economics, K.M. McGoldrick and A. Ziegert (eds.). University of Michigan Press
- Caplan, A.J, (2002). Poverty and access to health care: an academic service learning project in economics. Putting the Invisible Hand to Work: Concepts and Models for Service Learning in Economics, University of Michigan Press *
Books
Book Chapters
* Has not been peer reviewed
Publications - Fact Sheets
* Has not been peer reviewed
Publications - Curriculum
- Caplan, A.J, Gilbert, J., (2006). How-To Manual for Resource-Extraction Simulation. Pearson Education, Inc. *
- Caplan, A.J, Gilbert, J., (2006). Pearson Education, Inc *
* Has not been peer reviewed
Publications - Journal Articles
- Caplan, A.J, Akhundjanov, S., Toll, K., (2021). Measuring Heterogeneous Preferences for Residential Amenities. Regional Science and Urban Economics, 87, 103646. doi: doi.org/10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2021.103646
- Caplan, A.J, Oladi, R., (2018). Green Competition, Hybrid Equilibrium, and Establishment of a Resale Market. International Review of Economics and Finance, 58, 259-269.
- Oladi, R., Caplan, A.J, Gilbert, J.P, (2018). Sequestration and the Engagement of Developing Economies in a Global Carbon Market. Resource and Energy Economics, 52:C, 50-63.
- Caplan, A.J, Kim, M., (2018). A Note on Mitigating the Adverse Scale Effects Associated With Daily Driving Restrictions. Environment and Development Economics, 23, 63-79.
- Caplan, A.J, (2017). The Simple Economics of Conservation Clubs. Environment and Natural Resources Research, 7:2, 112-130.
- Caplan, A.J, Moscardini, L., (2017). Controlling Episodic Air Pollution with a Seasonal Gas Tax: The Case of Cache Valley, Utah. Environmental and Resource Economics/Springer, 66:4, 689-715.
- Caplan, A.J, (2016). Uncertainty and the Voluntary Provision of a Pure Public Good in a Two-Moment Model. Journal of Public Economic Theory/Wiley, Inc., 18:6, 910-922.
- Caplan, A.J, Sims, C., Anderson, E.J, (2014). Measuring the Environmental Cost of Hypocrisy. Ecological Economics, 108, 124-135.
- Caplan, A.J, (2014). Measuring the Surplus of Superficiality: The Case of Dented Bumper Repair. Applied Economics Letters, 21:14, 992-996.
- Caplan, A.J, Basdekas, L., Bastidas, L.A, Hardy, T.B, McKee, M., (2014). Virgin River Multi-Objective Optimization: Maximizing Endangered Fish Habitat and Minimizing Costs. The International Journal of River Basin Management, 12:1, 15-28.
- Caplan, A.J, (2013). Water Quality Trading in the Presence of Abatement Cost Sharing. Contemporary Economic Policy, 31:2, 279-290.
- Caplan, A.J, Gilbert, J.P, Chatterjee, D., (2013). Using Field-Level Characteristics as Proxy Measures to Test for the Presence of Economies of Scale in Nonpoint Pollution Control. Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, 42:2, 365-85.
- Mukherjee, S., Caplan, A.J, (2011). GIS-Based Estimation of Housing Amenities: The Case of Higher Grounds and Stagnant Streams. Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences, 4:1, 49-61.
- Caplan, A.J, Silva, E.C, (2011). Imperfect Labor Mobility and Matching Grants in a Federation with Decentralized Leadership. International Tax and Public Finance, 18:3, 322-336.
- Caplan, A.J, Water Quality Trading in the Presence of Abatement Cost Sharing. Contemporary Economic Policy
- Caplan, A.J, (2011). Carbon Sequestration and Permit Trading on the Competitive Fringe. Economic Modelling, 28:6, 2803-2810.
- Caplan, A.J, Gilbert, J., (2010). Can Fighting Grade Inflation Help the Bottom Line?. Applied Economics Letters, 17, 1663-1667.
- Caplan, A.J, Gilbert, J.P, (2010). Can Fighting Grade Inflation Help the Bottom Line?. Applied Economics Letters, 17:17, 1663-7.
- Caplan, A.J, Aadland, D., Macharia, A., (2010). Estimating Hypothetical Bias in Economically Emergent Africa: A Generic Public Good Experiment. Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, 39:2, 344-358.
- Caplan, A.J, Jackson-Smith, D., Marquart-Pyatt, S., (2010). Does 'Free Sampling' Enhance the Value of Public Goods?. Applied Economics Letters, 17:4, 335-339.
- Caplan, A.J, Larson, J., (2009). Estimating the Effectiveness of a Vehicle Miles Traveled Tax in Reducing Particulate Matter Emissions. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 52:3, 315-344.
- Caplan, A.J, Gilbert, J.P, Can Fighting Grade Inflation Help the Bottom Line?. Applied Economics Letters
- Sasaki, Y., Caplan, A.J, (2008). Matching Heterogeneous Traders in Quantity-Regulated Markets. Computational Economics, 31:4, 341-362.
- Caplan, A.J, (2008). Incremental and Average Control Costs in a Model of Water Quality Trading with Discrete Abatement Units. Environmental and Resource Economics, 41:3, 419-435.
- Caplan, A.J, Gilbert, j., (2008). D is For Dillydally?. Applied Economics Letters, 15:14, 1085-1088.
- Caplan, A.J, Sasaki, Y., (2008). Matching Heterogeneous Traders in Quantity-Regulated Markets. Computational Economics, 31:4, 341-362.
- Bohara, A.K, Caplan, A.J, Grijalva, T., (2007). The Effect of Experience and Quantity-Based Pricing on the Valuation of Curbside Recycling. Ecological Economics, 64:2, 433-443.
- Caplan, A.J, Silva, E.C, (2007). An Equitable, Efficient, and Implementable Scheme to Control Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions. International Tax and Public Finance, 14:3, 263-279.
- Caplan, A.J, Jackson-Smith, D., Grijalva, T., (2007). Using Choice Question Formats to Determine Compensable Values: The Case of a Landfill Siting Process. Ecological Economics, 60:4, 834-846.
- Caplan, A.J, Jackson-Smith, D., Marquart-Pyatt, S., Does 'Free-Sampling' Enhance the Value of Public Goods?. Applied Economics Letters, in press
- Caplan, A.J, Sasaki, Y., (2007). Interactive Geometry for Surplus Sharing in Cooperative Games. Journal of Economic Education, 37:3, 382.
- Caplan, A.J, Aadland, D., Philips, O.R, (2007). A Bayesian Examination of Information and Uncertainty in Contingent Valuation. Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, 35:2, 149-178.
- Caplan, A.J, Grijalva, T., Bohara, A.K, (2007). The Effect of Experience and Quantity-Based Pricing on the Valuation of a Curbside Recycling Program. Ecological Economics, 64:2, 433-443.
- Aadland, D., Caplan, A.J, Phillips, O.R, A Bayesian Examination of Information and Uncertainty in Contingent Valuation. Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, in press
- Caplan, A.J, (2006). A Comparision of Emissions Taxes and Permit Markets for Controlling Correlated Externalities. Environmental and Resource Economics, 34:4, 471-492.
- Aadland, D., Caplan, A.J, (2006). Curbside Recycling: Waste Resource or Waste of Resources?. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 25:4, 855-874.
- Caplan, A.J, Sasaki, Y., (2006). Interactive Geometry for Surplus Sharing in Cooperative Games. Journal of Economic Education, 37:3, 382.
- Caplan, A.J, Grijalva, T., Jackson-Smith, D., Using Choice Question Formats to Determine Compensable Values: The Case of a Landfill-Siting Process. Ecological Economics, 60:4, 834-846.
- Caplan, A.J, (2006). A Comparison of Emissions Taxes and Permit Markets for Controlling Correlated Externalities. Environmental and Resource Economics, 34:4, 471-492.
- Caplan, A.J, Aadland, D., (2006). Curbside Recycling: Waste Resource or Waste of Resources?. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 25:4, 855-874.
- Caplan, A.J, Gilbert, J.P, D is for Dillydally. Applied Economics Letters, in press
- Caplan, A.J, Silva, E.C, An Equitable, Efficient, and Implementable Scheme to Control Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions. International Tax and Public Finance, in press
- Caplan, A.J, Aadland, D., (2006). Cheap Talk Reconsidered: New Evidence From CVM. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 60:4, 562-578.
- Caplan, A.J, Gilbert, J.P, Interactive Scenario Analysis of Exhaustible Resource Problems. Computers in Higher Education Economics Review, 18, 4-9.
- Caplan, A.J, Tesfamichael, A., Kaluarachchi, J., (2005). Risk Benefit Analysis of Atrazine and Management Policy Issues. Water Resources Research, 41:5, 1-13.
- Caplan, A.J, Silva, E.C, (2005). An Efficient Mechanism to Control Correlated Externalities: Redistributive Transfers and the Coexistence of Regional and Global Pollution Permit Markets. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management , 49:1, 68-82.
- Aadland, D., Caplan, A.J, (2005). Cheap Talk Reconsidered: New Evidence From CVM. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 60:4, 562-578.
- Tesfamichael, A., Caplan, A.J, Kaluarachchi, J., (2005). Risk Cost Benefit Analysis of Atrazine in Drinking Water from Agricultural Activities and Policy Implications. Water Resources Research , 41:5, 1-13.
- Caplan, A.J, (2005). Seeing is Believing: Simulating Forest-Harvest Problems with Microsoft Excel in an Intermediate-Level Natural-Resource Economics Course. Perspectives on Economic Education Research, 1:1, 44-52.
- Caplan, A.J, Silva, E.C, (2005). An Efficient Mechanism to Control Correlated Externalities: Redistributive Transfers and the Coexistence of Regional and Global Pollution Permit Markets. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 49:1, 68-82.
- Caplan, A.J, (2005). Seeing is Believing: Simulating Forest-Harvest Problems with Microsoft Excel in anI Intermediate-Level Natural-Resource Economics Course. Perspectives on Economics Education Research, 1:1, 44-52.
- Aadland, D., Caplan, A.J, (2004). Incentive Incompatibility and Starting-Point Bias in Iterative Valuation Questions: Comment. Land Economics , 80:2, 312-315.
- Caplan, A.J, Aadland, D., (2004). Incentive incompatibility and starting point bias in interactive valuation questions: comment. Land Economics, 80:2, 312-315.
- Caplan, A.J, Cornes, R.C, Silva, E.C, (2003). An 'Ideal Kyoto Protocol': Emissions Trading, Redistributive Transfers and Global Participation. Oxford Economic Papers , 55, 216-34.
- Caplan, A.J, (2003). Reputation and the Control of Pollution. Ecological Economics , 47:2-3, 197-212.
- Aadland, D., Caplan, A.J, (2003). Willingness to Pay for Curbside Recycling With Detection and Mitigation of Hypothetical Bias. American Journal of Agricultural Economics , 85:2, 492-502.
- Caplan, A.J, Silva, E.C, Cornes, R.C, (2003). An Ideal Kyoto Protocol: Emissions Trading, Redistributive Transfers and Global Participation. Oxford Economic Papers, 55, 216-234.
- Caplan, A.J, (2003). Reputation and the Control of Pollution. Ecological Economics, 47:2-3, 197-212.
- Caplan, A.J, Aadland, D., (2003). Willingness to Pay for Curbside Recycling With Detection and Mitigation of Hypothetical Bias. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 85:2, 492-502.
- Caplan, A.J, Grijalva, T., Jackus, P.M, (2002). Waste Not or Want Not? A Contingent Ranking Analysis of Curbside Waste Disposal Options. Ecological Economics , 43:2-3, 185-97.
- Caplan, A.J, Jakus, P., Grijalva, T., (2002). Waste not or want not? A contingent ranking analysis of curbside waste disposal options. Ecological Economics, 43:2-3, 185-197.
- Caplan, A.J, Cornes, R.C, Silva, E.C, (2000). Pure Public Goods and Income Redistribution in a Federation with Decentralized Leadership and Imperfect Labor Mobility. Journal of Public Economics , 77:2, 265-84.
- Caplan, A.J, Silva, E.C, Cornes, R.C, (2000). Pure public goods and income redistribution in a federation with decentralized leadership and imperfect labor mobility. Journal of Public Economics, 77:2, 265-284.
- Caplan, A.J, Silva, E.C, (1999). Federal Acid Rain Games. Journal of Urban Economics , 46:1, 25-52.
- Aadland, D.M, Caplan, A.J, (1999). Household Valuation of Curbside Recycling. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 42:6, 781-800.
- Brist, L.E, Caplan, A.J, (1999). More Evidence on the Role of Secondary Education in the Development of Lower-Income Countries: Wishful Thinking or Useful Knowledge?. Economic Development and Cultural Change , 48:1, 155-76.
- Caplan, A.J, Ellis, C.J, Silva, E.C, (1999). Winners and Losers in a World with Global Warming: Noncooperation, Altruism, and Social Welfare. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management , 37:3, 256-71.
- Caplan, A.J, Aadland, D., (1999). Household Valuation of Curbside Recycling. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 42:6, 781-800.
- Caplan, A.J, Ellis, C.j, Silva, E.C, (1999). Winners and Losers in a World with Global Warming: Noncooperation, Altruism,and Social Welfare. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 37:3, 256-271.
- Caplan, A.J, Silva, E.C, (1999). Federal Acid Rain Games. Journal of Urban Economics, 46:1, 25-52.
- Caplan, A.J, Brist, L.E, (1999). More Evidence on the Role of Secondary Education in the Development of Lower-Income Countries: Wishful Thinking or Useful Knowledge?. Economic Development and Cultural Change, 48:1, 155-176.
- Silva, E.C, Caplan, A.J, (1997). Transboundary Pollution Control in Federal Systems. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management , 34:2, 173-86.
- Caplan, A.J, Silva, E.C, (1997). Transboundary Pollution Control in Federal Systems. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 34:2, 173-186.
Academic Journal
* Has not been peer reviewed
Publications - Literary Journal
* Has not been peer reviewed
Publications - MultiMedia
- Caplan, A.J, Gilbert, J.P, (2006). Resource-Extraction Simulation Models in Excel.. Pearson Education, Inc.
Software
* Has not been peer reviewed
Publications - Technical Reports
- Caplan, A.J, (2002). Household valuation of a pilot curbside recycling program: participants, non-participants, and the non-targeted. Final report to the Division of Environmental Services *
- Caplan, A.J, (2002). Unrecovered used oil by do yourselfers: preliminary results. Used Oil Recycling Project, Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste *
- Caplan, A.J, (2001). Used Oil Recycling Project. Report *
- Caplan, A.J, (1990). Farmer Training in Row Planting and Mechanical Weeding. ATIP Working Paper 29. Ministry of Agriculture, Botswana *
- Caplan, A.J, (1988). Estimated tractor costs for ploughing in the southern region of Botswana. Technical Report No. 2. Ministry of Agriculture, Botswana *
Research Reports
Other Reports
* Has not been peer reviewed
Publications - Translations & Transcripts
Publications - Other
- Caplan, A.J, (2005). Musings of a Cache Backpacker. The Logan Herald *
- Caplan, A.J, (2005). Air Woes Require Deeper Dialogue. The Logan Herald Journal *
- Caplan, A.J, (2002). Logan Transportation at Crossroad. The Logan Herald Journal *
- Stafford, E.R, Caplan, A.J, (2002). Pay-as-You-Throw Puts Cost of Waste Removal on Heaviest Users. Salt Lake Tribune *
- Stafford, E.R, Caplan, A.J, (2001). Why 'America Recycles Day' Matters. Salt Lake Tribune *
- Aadland, D., Caplan, A.J, (2000). Recycling in Utah: Too Little or Too Much?. Salt Lake Tribune *
- Caplan, A.J, (1998). A Testimony for Recycling. Northern Utah Junction *
- Caplan, A.J, Gilbert, J., (2005). How To Manual for Resource-Extraction Simulation Models in Excel. Pearson Education, Inc.
- Caplan, A.J, (2002). Logan Transportation at Crossroad. The Herald Journal *
- Caplan, A.J, (2002). Pay-as-You-Throw Puts Cost of Waste Removal on Heaviest Users. Salt Lake Tribune *
- Caplan, A.J, (2000). Recycling in Utah: Too Little or Too Much?. Salt Lake Tribune *
- Caplan, A.J, (1998). A Testimony for Recycling. Northern Utah Junction, November, page 5 *
- Caplan, A.J, (1987). 1987 crop enterprise budgets, selected tillage systems, central Whitman County, Washington. Extension Bulletin 1433. Washington State University *
- Caplan, A.J, (1987). 1987 crop enterprise budgets, selected tillage systems, western Whitman County, Washington. Extension Bulletin 1427, Washington State University *
Newspaper
Other
* Has not been peer reviewed