Essays on Environmental and Resource Economics

This dissertation consists of three applied essays on environmental and resource economics. The essays study consumer and local government responses to exogenous shocks: randomized environmental messages, variation in international mineral prices and a widely publicized food-borne disease outbreak. In particular, this dissertation focuses in three broad areas: (i) investigating whether environmental messages can increase energy efficient technology adoption by poor populations and understanding the characteristics of the individuals who respond to these messages, (ii) testing whether increases in municipal income translate into additional environmental investments and policies in developing countries and, (iii) studying the role of food borne disease outbreaks on consumer purchases and preferences