The University of Georgia | College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Dr. Bergstrom is the Richard B. Russell, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Public Policy and Professor, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, The University of Georgia. He joined the faculty January 1, 1987 after completing his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University in December, 1986. He earned a M.S. in Agricultural Economics from Clemson University in 1982 and a B.S. in Conservation and Resource Management from the University of Maryland in 1979. As a UGA faculty member, Dr. Bergstrom’s research, teaching and outreach activities over the past 20 years have focused on concepts and techniques for assessing natural resource and agricultural values, and applying these values to resource and agricultural public policy and management. Dr. Bergstrom’s expertise and accomplishments in natural resource and agricultural valuation and public policy have been recognized nationally and internationally through professional publications and presentations, research and outreach contracts and grants, teaching and curriculum development, and service as a technical advisor and consultant.

Dr. Bergstrom’s research record includes over 100 referred and edited professional publications and $2.8 million in research contracts and grants with most of these funds received from the USDA to support projects assessing natural resource and agricultural values and the application of these values to inform public policy and management. Most of the research contracts and grants received by Dr. Bergstrom are provided by agencies, organizations and firms to address specific public policy problems and issues. Research results are therefore directly applied with the technical assistance of Dr. Bergstrom to solve contemporary and pressing natural resource, environmental and agricultural policy issues and problems. Results and policy implications and recommendations are published in technical reports, journal articles, books, book chapters, proceedings, popular press articles and other publications. Dr. Bergstrom=s research program and expertise in natural resource and agricultural valuation has also been recognized over his career at UGA through speaking invitations at various professional and public service meetings and his work as a technical consultant for federal, state and local government agencies, non-profit organizations and private firms.

Because of its applied public policy focus and nature, Dr. Bergstrom’s research has strong public service and outreach connections and impacts. He works extensively with research clients to transfer and apply research results to practical public policy analysis, assessment and decision-making. Because of his recognized expertise in natural resource and agricultural valuation, he is often called upon by federal, state and local government agencies, private non-governmental organizations, private firms and private landowners and firms to provide advice and consultation on resource, environmental and agricultural valuation, policy and management. These applied research and public service and outreach clients include the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tennessee Valley Authority, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority, American Farmland Trust, Alcoa Power Generating, Inc., Wilderness Society and various local county governments in Georgia and the U.S. Dr. Bergstrom is also currently working with individual farmers and landowners in Georgia to help develop strategies and funding proposals for preserving their farms and agricultural operations through new State of Georgia conservation easement programs.

Selected Publications

Brown, T.C., J.C. Bergstrom and J.B. Loomis. “Defining, Valuing and Providing Ecosystem Goods and Services”. Natural Resources Journal. 47, 2 (2007): 329-376.

Bergstrom, J.C. and L.O. Taylor. “Using Meta-Analysis for Benefits Transfer: Theory and Methods.” Ecological Economics. 60 (2006):351-360.

Truesdell, M.K., J.C. Bergstrom and Jeffrey H. Dorfman. “Regulatory Takings and the Diminution of Value: An Empirical Analysis of Takings and Givings.” Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 38, 3 (2006):585-595.

Bergstrom, J.C., K.J. Boyle, M. Yabe. “Trading Taxes vs. Paying Taxes to Value and Finance Public Environmental Goods.” Environmental and Resource Economics. 28 (2004): 533-549.

Bergstrom, J.C., J.H. Dorfman, J.B. Loomis. “Estuary Management and Recreational Fisheries Benefits”. Coastal Management. 32 (2004): 417-432.

Holmes, T.P., J.C. Bergstrom, E. Huszar, S.B. Kask, Orr III. ”Contingent Valuation, Net Marginal Benefits, and the Scale of Riparian Restoration”. Ecological Economics. 49 (2004):
19-30.

Bergstrom, J.C. “The Role and Value of Natural Capital in Regional Landscapes.” Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics. 33 (2001): 283-296.

Bhat, G., J. Bergstrom, J. Teasley, J.M. Bowker, H.K. Cordell. “An Ecoregional Approach to the Economic Valuation of Land- and Water-Based Recreation in the United States”. Environmental Management. 22 (1998): 69-77.

MacDonald, H.F., J.C. Bergstrom, and J.E. Houston. “A Proposed Methodology for Measuring Incremental Environmental Benefits from Using Constructed Wetlands to Control Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution.” Journal of Environmental Management. 54(1998):259-267.

Bergstrom, J.C., J.R. Teasley, H.K. Cordell, R. Souter, D.B.K. English. "The Impacts of Reservoir Aquatic Plant Management on Recreational Expenditures and Impacts." J. of Agric. and Applied Economics, December, 1996.

Bergstrom, J.C., K.J. Boyle, C. Job, M.J. Kealy. "Assessing the Economic Benefits of Ground Water for Environmental Policy Decisions." Water Resources Bulletin, 32 (1996):279-291

Bergstrom, J.C., J.R. Stoll, J.P. Titre, and V.L. Wright. "Economic Value of Wetlands-Based Recreation." Ecological Economics. 2(1990):129-147.

Bergstrom, J.C. "Concepts and Measures of the Economic Value of Environmental Quality." Journal of Environmental Management. 31(1990):215-228.