Yanjun (Penny) Liao
Fellow
Yanjun (Penny) Liao is an economist and fellow at Resources for the Future. Her research primarily focuses on issues of natural disaster risk management and climate adaptation. She has studied the impacts of disasters on local government budgets, housing markets, and demographic changes. Her ongoing work investigates how disaster insurance interacts with the housing and mortgage sector, as well as the economic and fiscal impacts of adaptation policies on local communities. Liao earned her PhD in economics from UC San Diego in 2019 and conducted her postdoctoral research during 2019–21 at the Wharton Risk Center at University of Pennsylvania.
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Media Highlight — Jan 5, 2024
E&E News: “Home Buyouts Raise NY Property Values after Historic Flooding”
Research led by RFF Fellow Yanjun (Penny) Liao on recovery efforts post-Hurricane Sandy is discussed and contextualized in this story.
Common Resources — Dec 15, 2023
Boosting Recovery and Resilience in New York State after Hurricane Sandy
A program in New York State aimed to help areas impacted by Hurricane Sandy recover and become resilient against future disasters—and yielded local economic benefits.
Press Release — Dec 15, 2023
After Hurricane Sandy, New York State’s Buyout and Acquisition Program Spurred Economic Recovery
A new paper finds that, following Hurricane Sandy, New York State’s NY Rising Buyout and Acquisition Program had its intended effect.
Working Paper — Dec 15, 2023
Managed Retreat and Flood Recovery: The Local Economic Impacts of a Buyout and Acquisition Program
This working paper evaluates the property- and neighborhood-level impacts of a buyout and acquisition program in New York State following Hurricane Sandy.
Working Paper — Dec 15, 2023
Managed Retreat and Flood Recovery: The Local Economic Impacts of a Buyout and Acquisition Program
This working paper evaluates the property- and neighborhood-level impacts of a buyout and acquisition program in New York State following Hurricane Sandy.
Explainer — Dec 13, 2023
Flooding in the United States 102: Policy and Solutions
This explainer details several policy tools aimed at reducing our communities' exposure and vulnerability to flood risk.
Testimony and Public Comments — Sep 12, 2023
Comments on the National Strategy for a Sustainable Ocean Economy
This comment to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy responds to a request for information on the National Strategy for a Sustainable Ocean Economy.
Journal Article — Jun 15, 2023
Flood Insurance Reforms, Housing Market Dynamics, and Adaptation to Climate Risks
In this journal article, RFF Fellow Penny Liao and her coauthors examine how two reforms to the National Flood Insurance Program have affected flood insurance and property markets.
Common Resources — Dec 15, 2023
Boosting Recovery and Resilience in New York State after Hurricane Sandy
A program in New York State aimed to help areas impacted by Hurricane Sandy recover and become resilient against future disasters—and yielded local economic benefits.
Resources Magazine — Oct 4, 2023
As Sea Levels Rise, So Does Wastewater
Sea level rise poses a threat for waste disposal infrastructure. In houses with septic systems, rising wastewater can cause unhygienic overflows and system failures. More funding and community involvement can help address this expensive, growing problem.
In Focus — Jun 1, 2023
In Focus: Post-Hurricane Resilience
This video marking the beginning of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season shares insights about how coastal communities can rebuild in the wake of devastating storms, with RFF Fellow Yanjun (Penny) Liao.
Common Resources — May 4, 2023
Climate-Smart Economies: Coordinating Economic Development with Resilience Planning
Coordinating policies that spur job creation and improve community resilience can help mitigate the impacts of climate change on local infrastructure, jobs, and economies in the Chesapeake Bay region.
Media Highlight — Jan 5, 2024
E&E News: “Home Buyouts Raise NY Property Values after Historic Flooding”
Research led by RFF Fellow Yanjun (Penny) Liao on recovery efforts post-Hurricane Sandy is discussed and contextualized in this story.
Press Release — Dec 15, 2023
After Hurricane Sandy, New York State’s Buyout and Acquisition Program Spurred Economic Recovery
A new paper finds that, following Hurricane Sandy, New York State’s NY Rising Buyout and Acquisition Program had its intended effect.
Media Highlight — Aug 7, 2023
Newsweek: "Florida Could Soon Become Uninsurable—and Other States Will Likely Follow"
RFF Fellow Penny Liao is quoted several times in an article about the increasing risks of insuring properties that often face the brunt of climate-related disasters.
Media Highlight — Jun 21, 2023
New York Times: "Why California and Florida Have Become Almost Uninsurable"
RFF Fellow Penny Liao is quoted in this column about recent decisions by homeowner insurance companies to curtain business in Florida and California.