Current Research

My research focuses on three broad areas: Economic Valuation Methods, Economic and Social Analysis of Natural Hazards (wildfire, invasive species and climate change), and Measurement of Public Preferences, Attitudes and Behaviors. Within the realm of economic valuation methods, I largely focus on nonmarket valuation. I have conducted many studies to investigate the validity of nonmarket valuation techniques. I have also been involved in nonmarket valuation applications to investigate a wide range of environmental questions. For example, I have recently conducted a series of studies that consider different nonmarket valuation approaches to measuring the economic costs associated with exposure to wildfire smoke. In addition to nonmarket valuation, I am interested in how and why humans adapt to natural hazards. I also focus on survey research techniques for measuring preferences and attitudes.

Research Interests

My interests include validity issues associated with nonmarket valuation methods, survey research issues, allocation mechanisms for recreational opportunities on public lands, and issues associated with institutional arrangements and incentives. Economic valuation of natural resources. Environmental, economic, and institutional aspects of water resource management.

Past Research

Management for the 'greatest good for the greatest number in the long run' requires knowledge about what the 'greatest good' is. In the context of managing environmental amenities, many of the benefits are not captured in markets. Therefore nonmarket valuation is essential to understand how management decisions affect the public or how costs compare to benefits. This notion is evident in the increased focus on valuing ecosystem services. Research on nonmarket valuation is essential to improve our understanding of public preferences related to management of environmental amenities. Much of my research has investigated approaches to improivng the validity of nonmarket valuation techniques. In the context of applications, I have conducted studies that involved valuation of a wide variety of environmental goods and services from endangered species to health effects of wildfire smoke exposure. Another research focus has been on natural hazards. My research aims to provide an understanding of the human/natural hazard nexus in an effort to develop information that can be used to develop better programs and policies.

Why This Research is Important

My past research includes: 1) a series of studies on the validity of nonmarket valuation techniques. 2) an edited book (A Primer on Nonmarket Valuation) that is one of the few books on nonmarket valuation that is accessible to a broad audience. 3) A suite of studies on wildfire and homeowners living in the wildland urban interface.

Education

• University of Wisconsin, B.A. Economics and International Relations 1984
• University of Wisconsin, M.A. Economics 1987
• University of Wisconsin, Ph.D. Agricultural and Applied Economics 1994

Featured Publications & Products

• Meldrum, James R.; Champ, Patricia A.; Bond, Craig A. 2011. Valuing the forest for the trees: Willingness to pay for white pine blister rust management.
• Ready, Richard C.; Champ, Patricia A.; Lawton, Jennifer L. 2010. Using respondent uncertainty to mitigate hypothetical bias in a stated choice experiment.
• Kochi, Ikuho; Donovan, Geoffrey H.; Champ, Patricia A.; Loomis, John B. 2010. The economic cost of adverse health effects from wildfire-smoke exposure: A review.
• Champ, Patricia A.; Flores, Nicholas; Brenkert-Smith, Hannah. 2010. Living with wildfire in Colorado.
• Champ, Patricia A.; Donovan, Geoffrey H.; Barth, Christopher M. 2013. Living in a tinderbox: wildfire risk perceptions and mitigating behaviours.

Publications

• Brenkert-Smith, Hannah ; Champ, Patricia A.; Riley, Jonathan ; Barth, Christopher M.; Donovan, Colleen ; Meldrum, James R.; Wagner, Carolyn . 2020. Living with wildfire in the Squilchuck Drainage-Chelan County, Washington: 2020 data report.
• Meldrum, James R.; Champ, Patricia ; Bond, Craig ; Schoettle, Anna . 2020. Paired stated preference methods for valuing management of white pine blister rust: Order effects and outcome uncertainty.
• Champ, Patricia A.; Meldrum, James R.; Brenkert-Smith, Hannah ; Warziniack, Travis W.; Barth, Christopher M.; Falk, Lilia C.; Gomez, Jamie B. 2019. Do actions speak louder than words Comparing the effect of risk aversion on objective and self-reported mitigation measures.
• Brenkert-Smith, Hannah ; Meldrum, James R.; Wilson, Pamela ; Champ, Patricia A.; Barth, Christopher M.; Boag, Angela . 2019. Living with Wildfire in Montezuma County, Colorado: 2015 Data Report.
• Meldrum, James R.; Brenkert-Smith, Hannah ; Wilson, Pamela ; Champ, Patricia A.; Barth, Christopher M.; Boag, Angela . 2019. Living with wildfire in Archeluta County, Colorado: 2015 data report.
• Brenkert-Smith, Hannah ; Meldrum, James R.; Wilson, Pamela ; Champ, Patricia A.; Barth, Christopher M.; Boag, Angela . 2019. Living with wildfire in La Plata County, Colorado: 2015 data report.
• Warziniack, Travis ; Champ, Patricia ; Meldrum, James ; Brenkert-Smith, Hannah ; Barth, Christopher M.; Falk, Lilia C. 2018. Responding to risky neighbors: Testing for spatial spillover effects for defensible space in a fire-prone WUI community.
• Meldrum, James R.; Brenkert-Smith, Hannah ; Champ, Patricia A.; Falk, Lilia ; Wilson, Pamela ; Barth, Christopher M. 2018. Wildland-urban interface residents relationships with wildfire: Variation within and across communities.
• Champ, Patricia. 2017. Adapting to wildfire: Moving beyond homeowner risk perceptions to taking action.
• Meldrum, James R.; Falk, Lilia C.; Gomez, Jamie; Barth, Christopher M.; Brenkert-Smith, Hannah; Warziniack, Travis; Champ, Patricia A. 2017. Living with wildfire in Telluride Fire Protection District, Colorado.
• Miller, Sue; Schoettle, Anna; Burns, Kelly; Sniezko, Richard; Champ, Patty. 2017. Preempting the pathogen: Blister rust and proactive management of high-elevation pines.
• Brenkert-Smith, Hannah; Meldrum, James R.; Champ, Patricia A.; Barth, Christopher M. 2017. Where you stand depends on where you sit: Qualitative inquiry into notions of fire adaptation.
• Champ, Patricia A.; Brenkert-Smith, Hannah. 2016. Is seeing believing Perceptions of wildfire risk over time.
• Kochi, Ikuho; Champ, Patricia A.; Loomis, John B.; Donovan, Geoffrey H. 2016. Valuing morbidity effects of wildfire smoke exposure from the 2007 Southern California wildfires.
• Dickinson, Katherine; Brenkert-Smith, Hannah; Champ, Patricia; Flores, Nicholas. 2015. Catching fire Social interactions, beliefs, and wildfire risk mitigation behaviors.
• Brenkert-Smith, Hannah; Meldrum, James R.; Champ, Patricia A. 2015. Climate change beliefs and hazard mitigation behaviors: Homeowners and wildfire risk.
• Meldrum, James R.; Barth, Christopher, M..; Colter Falk, Lilia; Brenkert-Smith, Hannah; Warziniack, Travis; Champ, Patricia A. 2015. Living with wildfire in Delta County, Colorado: cross-community comparisons.
• Ham, Charlotte; Loomis, John B.; Champ, Patricia A. 2015. Relative economic values of open space provided by National Forest and military lands to surrounding communities in Colorado.
• Meldrum, James R.; Champ, Patricia A.; Brenkert-Smith, Hannah; Warziniack, Travis; Barth, Christopher M.; Falk, Lilia C. 2015. Understanding gaps between the risk perceptions of wildland-urban interface (WUI) residents and wildfire professionals.
• Gebert, Krista; Jones, Greg; Champ, Patty; Czaja, Mike; Oliver, Chuck; Cruz, Paul E.; Clement, Jessica. 2014. Beetles among us: Social and economic impacts of the MPB epidemic Chapter 6.
• Meldrum, James R.; Champ, Patricia A.; Warziniack, Travis; Brenkert-Smith, Hannah; Barth, Christopher M.; Falk, Lilia C. 2014. Cost shared wildfire risk mitigation in Log Hill Mesa, Colorado: Survey evidence on participation and willingness to pay.
• Hines, Sarah; Brenkert-Smith, Hannah; Champ, Patty; Joyce, Linda; Robichaud, Pete; Ryan-Burkett, Sandra. 2014. Our relationship with a dynamic landscape: Understanding the 2013 Northern Colorado Flood.
• Rosenberger, Randall S.; Bell, Lauren A.; Champ, Patricia A.; White, Eric M. 2013. Estimating the economic value of recreation losses in Rocky Mountain National Park due to a mountain pine beetle outbreak.
• Miller, Sue; Champ, Patty; Brenkert-Smith, Hannah. 2013. Fire on the mountain: What motivates homeowners to reduce their wildfire risk.
• Meldrum, James R.; Champ, Patricia A.; Bond, Craig A. 2013. Heterogeneous nonmarket benefits of managing white pine bluster rust in high-elevation pine forests.
• Maher, Kimberley; Little, Joseph; Champ, Patricia A. 2013. Insights from a harvest trip model for non-timber forest products in the interior of Alaska.
• Meldrum, James R.; Barth, Christopher M.; Falk, Lilia Colter; Brenkert-Smith, Hannah; Warziniack, Travis; Champ, Patricia. 2013. Living with wildfire in Log Hill Mesa, Colorado.
• Brenkert-Smith, Hannah; Dickinson, Katherine L.; Champ, Patricia A.; Flores, Nicholas. 2013. Social amplification of wildfire risk: The role of social interactions and information sources.
• Brenkert-Smith, Hannah; Champ, Patricia A.; Telligman, Amy L. 2013. Understanding change: Wildfire in Boulder County, Colorado.
• Brenkert-Smith, Hannah; Champ, Patricia A. 2013. Understanding change: Wildfire in Larimer County, Colorado.
• Richardson, Leslie; Loomis, John B.; Champ, Patricia A. 2013. Valuing morbidity from wildfire smoke exposure: A comparison of revealed and stated preference techniques.
• Nawrotzki, Raphael J.; Brenkert-Smith, Hannah; Hunter, Lori M.; Champ, Patricia A. 2013. Wildfire-migration dynamics: Lessons from Colorado's Fourmile Canyon Fire.
• Pitts, Heidi M.; Thacher, Jennifer A.; Champ, Patricia A.; Berrens, Robert P. 2012. A hedonic price analysis of the outfitter market for trout fishing in the Rocky Mountain West.
• Ham, Charlotte; Champ, Patricia A.; Loomis, John B.; Reich, Robin M. 2012. Accounting for heterogeneity of public lands in hedonic property models.
• Meyer, Kristen E.; Dwire, Kathleen A.; Champ, Patricia A.; Ryan, Sandra E.; Riegel, Gregg M.; Burton, Timothy A. 2012. Burning questions for managers: Fuels management practices in riparian areas.
• Rosenberger, Randall S.; Bell, Lauren A.; Champ, Patricia A.; Smith, Eric. L. 2012. Nonmarket economic values of forest insect pests: An updated literature review.
• Richardson, Leslie A.; Champ, Patricia A.; Loomis, John B. 2012. The hidden cost of wildfires: Economic valuation of health effects of wildfire smoke exposure in southern California.
• Brenkert-Smith, Hannah; Champ, Patricia A.; Flores, Nicholas. 2012. Trying not to get burned: Understanding homeowners' wildfire risk-mitigation behaviors.
• Kochi, Ikuho; Champ, Patricia A.; Loomis, John B.; Donovan, Geoffrey H. 2012. Valuing mortality impacts of smoke exposure from major southern California wildfires.
• Brenkert-Smith, Hannah; Champ, Patricia A. 2011. Fourmile Canyon: Living with wildfire.
• Bond, Craig A.; Champ, Patricia; Meldrum, James; Schoettle, Anna. 2011. Investigating the optimality of proactive management of an invasive forest pest.
• Champ, Patricia A.; Brenkert-Smith, Hannah; Flores, Nicholas. 2011. Living with wildfire in Boulder County, Colorado, 2007.
• Champ, Patricia A.; Brenkert-Smith, Hannah; Flores, Nicholas. 2011. Living with wildfire in Larimer County, Colorado, 2007.
• Moore, Rebecca; Bishop, Richard C.; Provencher, Bill; Champ, Patricia A. 2010. Accounting for respondent uncertainty to improve willingness-to-pay estimates.
• Champ, Patricia Ann; Donovan, Geoffrey H.; Barth, Christopher M. 2010. Homebuyers and wildfire risk: A Colorado Springs case study.
• Champ, Patraicia Ann; Donovan, Geoffrey H.; Barth, Christopher M. 2010. Homebuyers and wildfire risk: a Colorado Springs case study.
• Bond, Craig A.; Champ, Patricia; Meldrum, James; Schoettle, Anna. 2010. Proactive or reactive Optimal management of an invasive forest pest in a spatial framework.
• Champ, Patricia A.; Moore, Rebecca; Bishop, Richard C. 2009. A comparison of approaches to mitigate hypothetical bias.
• Donovan, Geoffrey; Champ, Patricia. 2009. The Economic Benefits of Elk Viewing at the Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area in Oregon.
• Champ, Patricia; Donovan, Geoffrey; Barth, Christopher. 2008. Wildfire risk and home purchase decisions..
• Duffield, John W.; Neher, Chris J.; Patterson, David A.; Champ, Patricia A. 2007. Field testing existence values for riparian ecosystems.
• Donovan, Geoffrey H.; Champ, Patricia A.; Butry, David T. 2007. Measuring the efficacy of a wildfire education program in Colorado Springs.
• Donovan, Geoffrey H.; Champ, Patricia A.; Butry, David T. 2007. Wildfire risk and housing prices: a case study from colorado springs.
• Brooks, Jeffrey J.; Champ, Patricia A. 2006. Understanding the wicked nature of "unmanaged recreation" in Colorado's Front Range.
• Brenkert, Hannah; Champ, Patricia; Flores, Nicholas. 2005. Mitigation of wildfire risk by homeowners.
• Champ, Patricia A.; Alberini, Anna; Correas, Ignacio. 2005. Using contingent valuation to value a noxious weeds control program: the effects of including an unsure response category.
• Champ, Patricia A.; Flores, Nicholas E.; Brown, Thomas C.; Chivers, James. 2002. Contingent valuation and incentives.
• Loomis, John B.; Peterson, George; Champ, Patricia A.; Brown, Thomas C.; Lucero, Beatrice. 1998. Paired comparison estimates of willingness to accept versus contingent valuation estimates of willingness to pay.
• Champ, Patricia A.; Loomis, John B. 1998. WTA estimates using the method of paired comparison: tests of robustness.
• Poe, Gregory L.; Welsh, Michael P.; Champ, Patricia A. 1997. Measuring the difference in mean willingness to pay when dichotomous choice contingent valuation responses are not independent.
• Champ, Patricia A.; Bishop, Richard C.; Brown, Thomas C.; McCollum, Daniel W. 1997. Using donation mechanisms to value nonuse benefits from public goods.
• Brown, Thomas C.; Champ, Patricia A.; Bishop, Richard C.; McCollum, Daniel W. 1996. Which response format reveals the truth about donations to a public good.