Yihsu Chen’s research focuses on studying the interactions of environmental policies and polluting industry activities. In particular, Chen is interested in the responses of industry (e.g., electricity) to the market-based instruments (e.g., emissions trading programs). The recent development of climate policies in the northeast states’ Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), California Global Warming Solutions Act (AB32) and European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), and Western Climate Initiative (WCI) has shown that emissions trading will continue being an area subject to policy debates.
Chen’s research includes collaborative projects with researchers from the Iowa State University, Purdue University, UC Berkeley, University of New South Wales, and the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Japan.
Aside from economic analysis, Chen am also interested in public health related to air pollution. Recent research papers include quantifying the health benefit of high-speed rails and metropolitan subway systems in the developing countries.
Chen is developing an interdisciplinary research group focusing on energy and environment.