Murray Fallk is a current PhD student in the Department of Land Economy at the University of Cambridge. His research focuses on themes spanning economics, public policy, demography, the environment, and energy. He is also interested in econometric methods and applying novel statistical tools to real-world policy problems.

Murray holds an MPhil in Land Economy Research with Distinction from the University of Cambridge, where his dissertation examined the socio-political implications of fracking for rural communities in the United States. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Policy Analysis and Management with Distinction and Honors from Cornell University. His undergraduate honors thesis studied the impact of IPCC reports on public opinion in the United States. Murray previously interned with U.S. Congressman Matt Cartwright and the Politics and Public Opinion team at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a Washington, D.C.-based think tank.

Outside of conducting research, Murray can be found playing the alto saxophone, running, playing basketball, exercising with the Peloton platform, and cheering for his Philadelphia sports teams.

Paper 7- Regional Economics and Policy

Murray’s current PhD research aims to conceptualize the varying implications of current environmental policy discourse in the United States by achieving three main goals: (1) identify effective communication techniques which empower relevant stakeholders to convey climate change to politically diverse audiences and promote climate policies that move the United States beyond fracking toward renewable energy; (2) understand the political implications associated with fracking while the practice remains a key tenet of American energy policy and while more aggressive climate mitigation measures are stalled; and (3) study the economic resilience of communities affected by fracking following macroeconomic shocks.

Fallk, M. (2023). Politics, fracking, and the future of energy policy. Op-Ed. https://www.smerconish.com/exclusive-content/politics-fracking-and-the-future-of-energy-policy/

Fallk, M. (2022). Population change and fracking: An examination of Pennsylvania and New York. MPhil Thesis. Available upon request.

Fallk, M. (2020). Tell me more: Release of the 2014 IPCC AR5 Synthesis Report and climate change opinions in the United States. Undergraduate Honors Thesis. https://ecommons.cornell.edu/

American Enterprise Institute Political Report, Contributor- 2020 Election Interest and Satisfaction with the Primary Fields; Past and Present Views on Candidates’ Ages, May 2019.

American Enterprise Institute Political Report, Contributor- Partisan Polarization on the Green New Deal and Climate Change; NATO at 70; Trump and Taxes, April 2019.

Economics, Public Policy, Demography, Environment, Rural, Research Methodology