Derek C. Wietelman

Environmental Economist

Biography

Welcome! I am a postdoctoral associate at the Institute of Behavioral Science at the University of Colorado Boulder. In 2026, I received my Ph.D. from the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Maryland.

I am an applied microeconomist specializing in environmental and resource economics, with a particular interest in the economics of water and energy resources. In my current work, I’m unpacking the economics of drought-induced water conservation mandates, investigating how lead pipe remediation efforts by water utilities impact health and behavioral outcomes, and designing cost-share subsidies for water quality improvements.

Working Papers

Derek C. Wietelman, Casey J. Wichman, Daniel A. Brent (2025). Conservation and Distributional Consequences of Pricing Scarce Water During Droughts. R&R, Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists.

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Youngho Kim, David Newburn, Erik Lichtenberg, Derek C. Wietelman, Haoluan Wang (2025). Emissions Trading Programs for Afforestation: Interactions with Federal Agricultural Conservation Programs.

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Publications

Joshua Blonz, Karen Palmer, Casey J. Wichman, Derek C. Wietelman (2025). Smart Thermostats, Automation, and Time-Varying Prices. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, Vol. 17(1), 90–125.

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Yusuke Kuwayama, Sheila M. Olmstead, Derek C. Wietelman, Jiameng Zheng (2020). Trends in Nutrient-Related Pollution as a Source of Potential Water Quality Damages: A Case Study of Texas, USA. Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 724, 137962.

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Arthur G. Fraas, Randall W. Lutter, Derek C. Wietelman (2019). The Energy Paradox in Seemingly Competitive Industries: The Use of Energy-Efficient Equipment on Heavy-Duty Tractor Trailers. Energy Policy, Vol. 129, 467–480.

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