Research Overview

My research examines how households, landowners, and firms respond to policy and market incentives related to natural resources, environmental quality, and energy systems. I primarily use applied econometric and spatial methods to evaluate policy-relevant outcomes.

Last updated: June 2026.

Selected Publications:

Burnett, J. W., Lacombe, D., & Wallander, S. (2024). Spatial and temporal spillovers in U.S. cropland values. Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 49. DOI
Burnett, J. W., Michaud, C., Callahan, S., Keller, A., Williams, M., & Harakat, S. (2024). Land use patterns on heirs' property in the American South. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 46, 154-168. DOI
Burnett, J. W., & Mothorpe, C. A. (2021). Human-induced earthquakes, risk salience, and housing values. Resource and Energy Economics, 63, 1-19. DOI
Harker-Steele, A., Burnett, J. W., & Bergstrom, J. C. (2021). The impact of variable renewable energy resources on power system reliability. Energy Policy, 151, 1-17. DOI
Burnett, J. W., & Kiesling, L. L. (2019). Power plant heat-rate efficiency as a regulatory mechanism: Implications for emission rates and levels. Energy Policy, 134, 1-13. DOI
Burnett, J. W., & Madariaga, J. F. (2018). A top-down economic efficiency analysis of U.S. household energy consumption. The Energy Journal, 39, 1-30. DOI
Burnett, J. W., & Madariaga, J. F. (2016). The convergence of U.S. state-level energy intensity. Energy Economics, 62, 357-370. DOI
Burnett, J. W. (2016). Club convergence and clustering of U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions. Resource and Energy Economics, 46, 62-84. DOI
Weber, J., Burnett, J. W., & Xiarchos, I. M. (2016). Broadening benefits from natural resource extraction: Housing values and taxation of natural gas wells as property. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 35, 587-614. DOI
Burnett, J. W., Bergstrom, J. C., & Dorfman, J. (2013). A spatial panel data approach to estimating U.S. state-level energy emissions. Energy Economics, 40, 396-404. DOI

Professional Experience:

2020-Present: Research Economist, Economic Research Service
2018-2020: Associate Professor, College of Charleston
2014-2018: Assistant Professor, College of Charleston
2011-2014: Assistant Professor, West Virginia University