Professor Dr. Blake Shaffer

Biography

Blake Shaffer is an associate professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Calgary. His work focuses on electricity markets, climate policy, and energy transitions. He employs empirical methods to evaluate policy effectiveness and understand both consumer and firm behavior. Before returning to academia, Shaffer had a 15-year career in energy trading, specializing in electricity, natural gas, and emissions markets. He holds a PhD in economics from the University of Calgary, a Master of Philosophy in economics from the University of Cambridge, and a bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences from Queen’s University. He has held visiting scholar and Fulbright postdoctoral positions at the Toulouse School of Economics and Stanford University. His recent research has been published in esteemed journals such as Nature, the American Economic Review: Insights, the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, the Canadian Journal of Economics, Energy Economics, and the Energy Journal. Additionally, Shaffer has written for popular media outlets including The Globe and Mail and CBC, providing insights on energy and environmental policy, as well as strategic initiatives at the university.

Research Interests