The Department of Economics is an intellectually vibrant place for students and faculty. We are a research-intensive department committed to student learning. We offer a wide range of courses that provide critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, and we complement this coursework by engaging students with faculty-led research opportunities.
Our faculty members are engaged in research that contributes to addressing local and global challenges related to environmental resources, economic development, trade, health, sports, and tourism. The Department of Economics is ranked among the leading U.S. economics departments for research productivity, and is particularly strong in environmental and experimental economics.
News
App State Departmental Leadership Awards: McEvoy, Salinas honored for impact on academic community
Jul 21, 2026
BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University faculty Dr. Dave McEvoy and Dr. Tracie McLemore Salinas have been honored as the recipients of this yearâ...
In the news: Morgan, research on economic impact of outdoor recreation featured on NPR
Jun 18, 2026
Appalachian State University Professor of Economics Dr. Ash Morgan was recently featured in a WFAE-FM show, Charlotte Talks With Mike Collins, about t...
Publication co-authored by economics assistant professor, Dr. Shishir Shakya, named Journal of Rural Health's article of the year (College of Arts & Sciences)
Apr 6, 2026
BOONE, N.C. — A publication authored by a cross‑college research team at Appalachian State University has been recognized as the Journal of R...
Dr. Shishir Shakya named AIM-AHEAD fellow, economics and AI
Jan 19, 2026
Dr. Shishir Shakya was recently appointed as a Research Fellow in the NIH‑funded AIM‑AHEAD Bridge2AI program, developing agentic artificial i...
Students attend COP30 in Brazil, engage in global climate talks
Dec 9, 2025
Six Appalachian State University students and two faculty members recently traveled to Belém, Brazil, to participate in the 30th Annual Conferen...