Steven Buck is an assistant professor of environmental and natural resource economics in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Kentucky. His research focuses on topics in consumer and producer behavior related to water and land resource economics. Methodologically, his expertise is in applied econometric methods, especially empirical methods for valuation of water resources, modeling land-use decisions, forecasting both water- and land-uses, and program evaluation.
His research on valuation topics includes valuing irrigation water, urban water supply reliability, and water conservation. Research on modeling land-use decisions includes econometric models of crop choice and the role of both water availability and water salinity on agricultural land-use. Research on forecasting topics include forecasts of residential water consumption, commercial & industrial water consumption, embedded energy consumption in residential water demand, Kentucky agricultural land-use and land vulnerable to nutrient loading. In addition, his research on consumer behavior with water and applied econometrics is general enough to inform research in other areas. For examples, he has collaborations on health topics related to consumer behavior with tobacco and cannabis plant/hemp products, food consumption choices, and household food security.
He has published research in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, the Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economics, Resource and Energy Economics, and Water Resources Research, among others.
Scholars@UK
High-frequency analytics and residential water consumption: Estimating heterogeneous effects
Nemati, M., Buck, S. & Soldati, H., Aug 2025, In: Resource and Energy Economics. 83, 101500.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
The market for private food safety certifications: Conceptual framework, review, and future research directions
Hu, L., Zheng, Y., Woods, T. A., Kusunose, Y. & Buck, S., Mar 2023, In: Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy. 45, 1, p. 197-220 24 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Consumer welfare consequences of the California drought conservation mandate
Buck, S., Nemati, M. & Sunding, D., Mar 2023, In: Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy. 45, 1, p. 510-533 24 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Fixed or mixed? Farmer-level heterogeneity in response to changes in salinity
Uz, D., Buck, S. & Sunding, D., Aug 2022, In: American Journal of Agricultural Economics. 104, 4, p. 1343-1363 21 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
How does the affordable care act Medicaid expansion affect cigarette consumption?—The mechanism and heterogeneity
Wang, L., Zheng, Y. & Buck, S. C., Sep 1 2021, In: Journal of Consumer Affairs. 55, 3, p. 763-791 29 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Putting grocery food taxes on the table: Evidence for food security policy-makers
Zheng, Y., (Jason) Zhao, J., Buck, S., Burney, S., Kaiser, H. M. & Wilson, N. L., May 2021, In: Food Policy. 101, 102098.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Grocery food taxes and U.S. county obesity and diabetes rates
Wang, L., Zheng, Y., Buck, S., Dong, D. & Kaiser, H. M., Dec 2021, In: Health Economics Review. 11, 1, 5.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
The effect of the oil and gas boom on schooling decisions in the U.S
Zuo, N., Schieffer, J. & Buck, S., Feb 2019, In: Resource and Energy Economics. 55, p. 1-23 23 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Comparing water use forecasting model selection criteria: The case of commercial, institutional, and industrial sector in southern California
Uz, D. & Buck, S., May 1 2020, In: Sustainability (Switzerland). 12, 10, 3995.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Land markets and the value of water: Hedonic analysis using repeat sales of farmland
Buck, S., Auffhammer, M. & Sunding, D., Jul 2014, In: American Journal of Agricultural Economics. 96, 4, p. 953-969 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Forecasting Residential Water Consumption in California: Rethinking Model Selection
Buck, S., Auffhammer, M., Soldati, H. & Sunding, D., Jan 1 2020, In: Water Resources Research. 56, 1, e2018WR023965.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Measuring welfare losses from urban water supply disruptions
Buck, S., Auffhammer, M., Hamilton, S. & Sunding, D., Sep 1 2016, In: Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists. 3, 3, p. 743-778 36 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Recovering forecast distributions of crop composition: Method and application to kentucky agriculture
Kim, G. S., Nemati, M., Buck, S., Pates, N. & Mark, T., Apr 1 2020, In: Sustainability (Switzerland). 12, 7, 2917.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Reputation in a public goods game: Taking the design of credit bureaus to the lab
McIntosh, C., Sadoulet, E., Buck, S. & Rosada, T., Nov 2013, In: Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization. 95, p. 270-285 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Re-visiting traditional trust measurement: using artefactual field experiments to measure trust and predict micro-lending decisions
Buck, S., Kusunose, Y. & Alwang, J., Jan 21 2021, In: Agricultural Finance Review. 81, 1, p. 132-150 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Agricultural extension, trust, and learning: Results from economic experiments in Ecuador
Buck, S. & Alwang, J., Nov 2011, In: Agricultural Economics (United Kingdom). 42, 6, p. 685-699 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Appalachian Water Infrastructure Workforce Development and Training Center
McNeil, D. (PI), Alameh, S. (CoI) & Buck, S. (CoI)
Appalachian Regional Commission
4/1/24 → 3/31/26
Project: Research project
CARERC Pilot: Water Utility Characteristics, Drinking Water Quality and Infrastructure Needs: Evidence from Eastern Kentucky
Buck, S. (PI)
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
7/1/21 → 6/30/22
Project: Research project
Associated Departments
Agricultural Economics