Dr. Blake Shaffer
Positions
Associate Professor
Associate Professor
The School of Public Policy
Contact information
Web presence
I'm looking for...
Research partners
I'm always looking for research partners interested in better understanding the potential of flexible demand to manage modern electricity systems.
Background
Educational Background
PhD Economics, University of Calgary, 2018
MPhil Economics, Cambridge University, 2003
BSc Honours Environmental Sciences, Queen's University, 2000
Biography
Blake Shaffer is an assistant professor in the Department of Economics and School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary. His work focusses on electricity markets, climate policy and energy transitions. He uses empirical methods to evaluate policy effectiveness and better understand consumer and firm behaviour.
Prior to 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, Master of Philosophy in economics from the University of Cambridge and a bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences from Queen’s University. He has recently held visiting scholar and Fulbright postdoctoral scholar positions at the Toulouse School of Economics and Stanford University.
His recent research has been published in Nature, American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, Canadian Journal of Economics, Energy Economics, and the Energy Journal. His popular writing has appeared in the Globe and Mail, Maclean’s, Postmedia, CBC, and other media outlets. Shaffer has also served as policy advisor for the governments of Alberta, British Columbia and Canada on energy and environmental policy matters.
Research
Areas of Research
Participation in university strategic initiatives
Publications
In the News
- If you got an AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, you made the right decision, according to economics. Globeandmail. (2021)
- Comment le Canada peut fournir une énergie propre et fiable grâce aux macroréseaux électriques. The Conversation Canada. (2021)
- Why Canada should invest in ‘macrogrids’ for greener more reliable electricity. The Conversation Canada. (2021)
- Lessons for Alberta from the Texas power blackout. CBC. (2021)
- Bridging the electricity gap between Alberta and B.C. makes perfect climate sense. CBC. (2020)
- Alberta's shift away from coal power is a climate action success story. CBC. (2020)
- On the wrong track: Alberta loses $2.1B on crude-by-rail contracts. CBC. (2020)
- Alberta’s government is using coronavirus as a shield for laying off education workers. Globeandmail. (2020)
- Beyond pipelines: The nation-building project that could electrify Canada. Globeandmail. (2020)
- Alberta's carbon-pricing policy is imperfect -- but in one significant way, it's actually better than Ottawa's. Globeandmail. (2019)
- Les Canadiens ont les voitures les plus grosses et les plus énergivores au monde. The Conversation Canada. (2019)
- When it comes to vehicles, Canada tops the charts for poor fuel economy. The Conversation Canada. (2019)
- Redwater decision is progress, but environmental liabilities run deep. Globeandmail. (2019)
- Canada's new large-emitter pricing system might defeat the carbon tax's own purpose. Macleans. (2018)
- Will LNG Canada increase greenhouse gas emissions?. Macleans. (2018)
- On Policy Durability. The Hill Times. (2018)
- Why the B.C. Liberals and NDP are both wrong about bridge tolls. Macleans. (2017)
- Why John Horgan deserves credit for going ahead with Site C. Macleans. (2017)
- Saskatchewan swallows the fiscal pill Alberta refuses. Macleans. (2017)
- Paying for pipelines: How consumers can end up footing the bill. CBC. (2017)
- Making sense of energy efficiency programs. Macleans. (2017)
- Alberta Electricity: There's something happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear. Calgary Herald. (2016)
- Carbon tax: The real debate is about the revenue. Globeandmail. (2016)
- Making sense of a $15 minimum wage in Alberta. Macleans. (2016)
- Alberta's climate plan requires serious debate. Globeandmail. (2016)
- Making sense of provincial debt downgrades: Why Canadians in all regions should watch mounting provincial debt levels with concern. Macleans. (2015)
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