Emily Lightfoot is a pre-doctoral research fellow at the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC). She works with Michael Greenstone on research projects at the intersection of energy and development, including a randomized control trial on the social norms of payment for electricity in Pakistan. Emily holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and minor in Mathematics from Texas A&M University, graduating summa cum laude. Her honors thesis estimated the effect of hurricane flooding on Texas business activity. Emily is interested in the study of climate economics, spatial economics, as well as law and economics.
“My passion for conducting economic research that can be translated into tangible policy is what drew me to work at EPIC. I have gained so much working alongside professors and peers on projects that aim to find solutions to the pressing issue of climate change and its impact on our communities. Working at the University of Chicago has allowed me to strengthen my technical and professional skills, preparing me for a career in economic research”