Research & Publications
"Climate Policy Reform Options in 2025."
Bistline, John, Kimberly A. Clausing, Neil Mehrotra, James H. Stock, and Catherine Wolfram. Environmental and Energy Policy and the Economy. Forthcoming. NBER Working Paper 32168."Digital Collateral."
Gertler, Paul, Brett Green, and Catherine Wolfram. Quarterly Journal of Economics Vol. 139, No. 3 (2024): 1713-1766."Strengthening Enforcement of the Russian Oil Price Cap."
Johnson, Simon and Catherine Wolfram. Brookings Institution Working Paper (2024). Appendix."Strategic Climate Cooperation and Greenhouse Gas Price Coordination."
Clausing, Kimberly, Peter Cramton, Axel Ockenfels, and Catherine Wolfram. Intereconomics Vol. 59, No. 1 (2024): 55-56."Design and Implementation of the Price Cap on Russian Oil Exports."
Johnson, Simon, Lukasz Rachel, and Catherine Wolfram. Journal of Comparative Economics Vol. 51, No. 4 (2023): 1244-1252."Money or Power? Choosing Covid-19 Aid in Kenya."
Berkouwer, Susanna, Pierre Biscaye, Eric Hsu, Oliver Kim, Kenneth Lee, Edward Miguel, and Catherine Wolfram. Energy Economics Vol. 127, No. Part B (2023): 107036."Carbon Border Adjustments, Climate Clubs, and Subsidy Races When Climate Policies Vary."
Clausing, Kimberly and Catherine Wolfram. Journal of Economic Perspectives Vol. 37, No. 3 (2023): 137-162. Download Working Paper."Economic Implications of the Climate Provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act."
Bistline, John, Neil R. Mehrotra, and Catherine Wolfram. Brookings Papers on Economic Activity (2023): 77-157. Conference Draft."Disbursing Emergency Relief through Utilities: Evidence from Ghana."
Berkouwer, Susanna, Pierre E. Biscaye, Steven Puller, and Catherine Wolfram. Journal of Developmental Economics Vol. 156, (2022): 102826. SSRN Preprint."Default Effects and Follow-On Behavior: Evidence from an Electricity Pricing Program."
Fowlie, Meredith, Catherine Wolfram, Patrick Baylis, C. Anna Spurlock, Annika Todd-Blick, and Peter Cappers. The Review of Economic Studies Vol. 88, No. 6 (2021): 2886-2934. SSRN Preprint."Air Conditioning and Global Inequality."
Davis, Lucas, Paul Gerler, Stephen Jarvis, and Catherine Wolfram. Global Environmental Change Vol. 69, (2021): 102299. Download Paper."Low Energy: Estimating Electric Vehicle Electricity Use."
Burlig, Fiona, James Bushnell, David Rapson, and Catherine Wolfram. AEA Papers and Proceedings Vol. 111, (2021): 430-435. SSRN Preprint."Machine Learning from Schools about Energy Efficiency."
Burlig, Fiona, Christopher Knittel, David Rapson, Mar Reguant, and Catherine Wolfram. Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists Vol. 7, No. 6 (2020): 1181-1217. SSRN Preprint."Experimental Evidence on the Economics of Rural Electrification."
Lee, Kenneth, Edward Miguel, and Catherine Wolfram. Journal of Political Economy Vol. 128, No. 4 (2020): 1523-1565. SSRN Preprint."Does Household Electrification Supercharge Economic Development?"
Lee, Kenneth, Edward Miguel, and Catherine Wolfram. Journal of Economic Perspectives Vol. 34, No. 1 (2020): 122-124. Download Paper."Heat Exposure and Global Air Conditioning."
Biardeau, Léopold, Lucas Davis, Paul Gertler, and Catherine Wolfram. Nature Sustainability Vol. 3, (2020): 25-28."Power Quality and Modern Energy for All."
Jacome, Veronica, Noah Klugman, Catherine Wolfram, Belinda Grunfield, Duncan Callaway, and Isha Ray. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science Vol. 116, No. 33 (2019): 16308-13. Download Paper."Solar Microgrids and Remote Energy Access: How Weak Incentives Can Undermine Smart Technology."
Fowlie, Meredith, Yashraj Khaitan, Catherine Wolfram, and Derek Wolfson. Economics of Energy and Environmental Policy Vol. 8, No. 1 (2019): 59-83."Do Energy Efficiency Investments Deliver? Evidence from the Weatherization Assistance Program."
Fowlie, Meredith, Michael Greenstone, and Catherine Wolfram. Quarterly Journal of Economics Vol. 133, (2018): 1597-1644. SSRN Preprint."Running Randomized Field Experiments for Energy Efficiency Programs: A Practitioner’s Guide."
Gandhi, Raina, Christopher Knittel, Paula Pedro, and Catherine Wolfram. Economics of Energy and Environmental Policy Vol. 5, No. 2 (2016): 7-26. Download Paper."Electrification for 'Under Grid' Households in Rural Kenya."
Lee, Kenneth, Eric Brewer, Carson Christiano, Francis Meyo, Edward Miguel, Matthew Podolsky, Javier Rosa, and Catherine Wolfram. Development Engineering Vol. 1, (2016): 26-35. SSRN Preprint."The Demand for Energy-Using Assets among the World’s Rising Middle Classes."
Gertler, Paul, Orie Shelef, Catherine Wolfram, and Alan Fuchs. American Economic Review Vol. 106, No. 6 (2016): 1355-1401. Download Paper. Replication Package. Online Appendix."Appliance Ownership and Aspirations among Electric Grid and Home Solar Households in Rural Kenya."
Lee, Kenneth, Edward Miguel, and Catherine Wolfram. American Economic Review Vol. 106, No. 5 (2016): 89-94. Replication Package. Online Appendix. SSRN Preprint."The Frontiers of Energy."
Armstrong, Robert C., Catherine Wolfram, Krijn P. de Jong, Robert Gross, Nathan S. Lewis, Brenda Boardman, Arthur J. Ragauskas, Karen Ehrhardt-Martinez, George Crabtree, and M.V. Ramana. Nature Energy Vol. 1, (2016): 15020."Cursed Resources? Political Conditions and Oil Market Outcomes."
Metcalf, Gilbert E., and Catherine Wolfram. The Energy Journal Vol. 36, No. 3 (2015): 331-357. SSRN Preprint."Are the Non-Monetary Costs of Energy Efficiency Investments Large? Understanding Low Take-up of a Free Energy Efficiency Program."
Fowlie, Meredith, Michael Greenstone, and Catherine Wolfram. American Economic Review Vol. 105, No. 5 (2015): 201-204. SSRN Preprint."An Economic Perspective on the EPA’s Clean Power Plan."
Fowlie, Meredith, Lawrence Goulder, Matthew Kotchen, Severin Borenstein, James Bushnell, Lucas Davis, Michael Greenstone, Charles Kolstad, Christopher Knittel, Robert Stavins, Michael Wara, Frank Wolak, and Catherine Wolfram. Science Vol. 345, No. 6211 (2014): 815-816."Powering up China: Income Distributions and Residential Electricity Consumption."
Auffhammer, Maximilian, and Catherine Wolfram. American Economic Review Vol. 104, No. 5 (2014): 575-580. Download Paper."Deregulation, Consolidation and Efficiency: Evidence from U.S. Nuclear Power."
Davis, Lucas, and Catherine D. Wolfram. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics Vol. 4, No. 4 (2012): 194-225. SSRN Preprint."Work Environment and OPT-out Rates at Motherhood across High-Education Career Paths."
Leber Herr, Jane, and Catherine Wolfram. ILR Review Vol. 65, No. 4 (2012): 928-950. SSRN Preprint."Enforcement of Vintage Differentiated Regulations: The Case of New Source Review."
Bushnell, James, and Catherine D. Wolfram. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management Vol. 64, No. 2 (2012): 137-152. Download Paper."Dynamic Pricing of Electricity."
Joskow, Paul L., and Catherine D. Wolfram. American Economic Review Vol. 102, No. 3 (2012): 381-385. Download Paper."Sacred Cars? Cost-Effective Regulation of Stationary and Non-stationary Pollution Sources."
Fowlie Meredith, Christopher R. Knittel, and Catherine Wolfram. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy Vol. 4, No. 1 (2012): 98-126. Online Appendix. Replication Package. SSRN Preprint."How Will Energy Demand Develop in the Developing World?"
Wolfram, Catherine D., Orie Shelef, and Paul Gertler. Journal of Economic Perspectives Vol. 26, No. 1 (2012): 119-138. Download Paper."Local Solutions to Global Problems: Climate Change Policy and Regulatory Jurisdiction."
Bushnell, James, Carla Peterman, and Catherine Wolfram. Review of Environmental Economics and Policy Vol. 2, No. 2 (2008): 175-193. SSRN Preprint."Inefficiencies and Market Power in Financial Arbitrage: A Study of California’s Electricity Markets."
Borenstein, Severin, James Bushnell, Christopher R. Knittel, and Catherine Wolfram. The Journal of Industrial Economics Vol. 56, No. 2 (2008): 347-378. Download Paper."Do Markets Reduce Costs? Assessing the Impact of Regulatory Restructuring on US Electric Generation Efficiency."
Fabrizio, Kira R., Nancy L. Rose, and Catherine Wolfram. American Economic Review Vol. 97, No. 4 (2007): 1250-1277. Appendix. Replication Package. SSRN Preprint."Coordinating on Lower Prices: Pharmaceutical Pricing under Political Pressure."
Ellison, Sara Fisher, and Catherine Wolfram. The RAND Journal of Economics Vol. 37, No. 2 (2006): 324-340."Increases in Executive Pay Following Privatization."
Wolfram, Catherine. Journal of Economics and Management Strategy Vol. 7, No. 3 (2004): 327-361."Why Do Manufacturers Issue Coupons? An Empirical Analysis of Breakfast Cereals."
Nevo, Aviv, and Catherine Wolfram. The RAND Journal of Economics Vol. 33, No. 2 (2002): 319-339. SSRN Preprint."Regulating Executive Pay: Using the Tax Code to Influence CEO Compensation."
Rose, Nancy L., and Catherine Wolfram. Journal of Labor Economics Vol. 20, No. S2 (2002): S138-S175. SSRN Preprint."Has the 'Million-Dollar Cap' Affected CEO Pay?"
Rose, Nancy L., and Catherine Wolfram. American Economic Review Vol. 90, No. 2 (2000): 197-202. Download Paper."Measuring Duopoly Power in the British Electricity Spot Market."
Wolfram, Catherine. American Economic Review Vol. 89, No. 4 (1999): 805-826. Download Paper."Electricity Markets: Should the Rest of the World Adopt the United Kingdom’s Reforms?"
Wolfram, Catherine. Regulation Vol. 22, No. 4 (1999): 48-53."Strategic Bidding in a Multiunit Auction: An Empirical Analysis of Bids to Supply Electricity in England and Wales."
Wolfram, Catherine. The RAND Journal of Economics Vol. 29, No. 4 (1998): 703-725. SSRN Preprint."Decomposing the Sources of Incumbency Advantage in the U.S. House."
Levitt, Steven D., and Catherine Wolfram. Legislative Studies Quarterly Vol. 22, No. 1 (1997): 45-60."Political Constraints on Executive Compensation: Evidence From the Electric Utility Industry."
Joskow, Paul L., Nancy L. Rose, and Catherine Wolfram. The RAND Journal of Economics Vol. 27, No. 1 (1996): 165-182. SSRN Preprint.
"Donor Contracting Conditions and Public Procurement: Causal Evidence from Kenyan Electrification."
Wolfram, Catherine, Edward Miguel, Susanna Berkouwer, and Eric Hsu, Working Paper. April 2023. SSRN."Money or Power? Choosing COVID-19 Aid in Kenya."
Berkouwer, Susanna, Pierre Biscaye, Eric Hsu, Oliver Kim, Kenneth Lee, Edward Miguel, and Catherine D. Wolfram, Working Paper. December 2022."The Political Economy of Rural Electrification in Kenya."
Wolfram, Catherine, Susanna Berkouwer, Eric Hsu, Oliver Kim, Edward Miguel, and Felipe Vial, Working Paper. January 2018.
The Design and Implementation of U.S. Climate Policy.
Fullerton, Don, and Catherine Wolfram (Eds.). Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2012.
"The ’90s Are Over: 5 Reasons to Embrace Carbon Pricing Today."
Clausing, Kimberly and Catherine Wolfram. The Hill, March 26, 2024."Climate Tax Policy Reform Options in 2025."
John Bistline, Kimberly Clausing, Neil Mehrotra, James Stock, and Catherine Wolfram. In The Hamilton Project, Washington, D.C.: February 2024."Putting Progress over Protectionism in Climate Policy."
Kimberly Clausing and Catherine Wolfram. In Realtime Economics, Peterson Institute for International Economics: December 2023."How Contracting Structures Affect Project Outcomes in Public Procurement."
Berkouwer, Susanna B., Eric Hsu, Edward Miguel, and Catherine Wolfram. VoxEU, August 30, 2023."The Design and Implementation of the Price Cap on Russian Oil."
Johnson, Simon, Łukasz Rachel, and Catherine Wolfram. VoxEU, August 19, 2023."How an International Agreement on Methane Emissions can Pave the Way for Enhanced Global Cooperation on Climate Change."
Kimberly Clausing, Luis Garicano, and Catherine Wolfram. Peterson Institute for International Economics: June 2023."Progressives Should Have Supported Manchin’s Permitting Reforms: Here’s Why."
Wolfram, Catherine. The Hill, December 11, 2022."Here’s How to Tighten the Oil Spigot That Finances Russia’s War Without Hurting the World Economy."
Johnson, Simon, Lukasz Rachel, and Catherine Wolfram. Los Angeles Times, December 7, 2022."The Price Cap on Russian Oil Exports, Explained."
Wolfram, Catherine, Simon Johnson, and Łukasz Rachel. Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, December 2022."Hardware, Apps, and Surveys at Scale: Insights from Measuring Grid Reliability in Accra, Ghana."
Noah Klugman, Joshua Adkins, Susanna Berkouwer, Kwame Abrokwah, Ivan Bobashev, Patrick Pannuto, Matthew Podolsky, Aldo Susenot, Revati Thatte, Catherine Wolfram, Jay Taneja, and Prabal Dutta. In COMPASS '19: Proceedings of the 2nd ACM SIGCAS Conference on Computing and Sustainable Societies, New York, NY: July 2019. Download Paper."Experience: Android Resists Liberation from Its Primary Use Case."
Noah Klugman, Veronica Jacome, Meghan Clark, Matthew Podolsky, Pat Pannuto, Neal Jackson, Aley Soud Nassor, Catherine Wolfram, Duncan Callaway, Jay Taneja, and Prabal Dutta. In MobiCom '18: Proceedings of the 24th Annual International Conference on Mobile Computing and Networking, New York, NY: October 2018. Download Paper."What Are You Getting If You Buy Clean Electricity?"
Wolfram, Catherine. San Jose Mercury News, September 5, 2018."Does Solving Energy Poverty Help Solve Poverty?"
Kenneth Lee, Edward Miguel, and Catherine Wolfram. In World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2018, Davos-Klosters, Switzerland: September 2018. Energy Institute Blog."Water Conservation's Other Benefit: It's a Power Saver."
Wolfram, Catherine and David Zetland. Los Angeles Times, March 3, 2014."Energy Efficiency Needs More Research."
Bailey, Elizabeth, Christopher Knittel, and Catherine Wolfram. USA Today, February 28, 2013."What Can California Learn from Clothier about Energy Efficiency?"
Wolfram, Catherine. Sacramento Bee, January 16, 2013."A Whole Different Kind of Innovation."
Bailey, Elizabeth, and Catherine Wolfram. Wall Street Journal, June 18, 2012."Fighting Climate Change with Low-Tech Tools."
Wolfram, Catherine. Bloomberg Business Class, May 20, 2012."Rising Middle Class Fuels Global Energy Surge."
Wolfram, Catherine. Bloomberg Business Class, January 17, 2012."The Guy at the Controls: Labor Quality and Power Plant Efficiency."
Bushnell, James, and Catherine Wolfram. In International Differences in the Business Practices and the Productivity of Firms, edited by Kathryn Shaw and Richard Freeman , 79-103. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2009. NBER Working Paper 13215."Electricity Markets."
Bushnell, James, and Catherine Wolfram. In The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics, edited by Lawrence Blume and Steven Durlauf , 1-3. Palgrave Macmillan, 2008."The Efficiency of Electricity Generation in the U.S. After Restructuring."
Wolfram, Catherine. In Electricity Deregulation: Choices and Challenges, edited by James Griffin and Steve Puller, Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2005."Pricing Security."
Camp, L. Jean, and Catherine Wolfram. In Economics of Information Security, edited by L. Jean Camp and Stephen Lewis, 17-34. New York, NY: Springer-Kluwer, 2004. SSRN Preprint."Comments on 'The Adoption and Impact of Advanced Emergency Response Services'."
Wolfram, Catherine. In The Changing Hospital Industry, edited by David M. Cutler, 1-2. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2000."Comments on 'Comparing Hospital Quality at For-Profit and Not-for-Profit Hospitals'."
Wolfram, Catherine. In The Changing Hospital Industry, edited by David M. Cutler, 1-2. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2000.