Research

As an applied microeconomist, my research seeks to better understand the challenges facing underserved communities in rural areas. By focusing on both classical and behavioral components of decision-making, my research helps make sense of observed behavior and guide the design of policies seeking to foster resilience in the face of economic and environmental uncertainty.

I believe that these questions are as relevant for my home community in Maine as for the communities in Mozambique and Nicaragua, where I have spent much of the previous ten years studying the effects of drought on smallholding farmers.

Research Interests
· Risk, Insurance, and Investment
· Food Security and Household Resilience
· Agricultural Value Chains

Peer-Reviewed Publications (Google Scholar Profile)

Malacarne, JG, Jason Lilley, and Nancy McBrady. “The Response of the Maine Food System to the Onset of COVID-19 Pandemic.” Maine Policy Review 30.2 (2021): 34 -47.

Under Review

Malacarne, J.G. and Paul, LA. (2021) “Do the Benefits of Better Management Practices on Nutritional Outcomes “Dry Up” in the Presence of Drought? Evidence from East Africa”. (R&R)

Boucher, S. R., Carter, M. R., Flatnes, J. E., Lybbert, T. J., Malacarne, J. G., Marenya, P., & Paul, L. A. (2022). Bundling Genetic and Financial Technologies for More Resilient and Productive Small-scale Agriculture.

Alloush, Mo, Bloem, Jeffrey R., Malacarne, Jonthan G. “Social Protection Amid a Crisis: New Evidence From South Africa’s Older Person’s Grant”. (2022)

Working Papers, Policy Briefs and Industry Reports

Laurent, Jennifer PhD, APRN; Bertmann, Farryl; Alpaugh, Mattie; Belarmino, Emily H.; Bliss, Sam; Malacarne, Jonathan; McCarthy, Ashley C.; Merrill, Scott C.; Schattman, Rachel E.; Yerxa, Kathryn; and Niles, Meredith T., “Change in Food Security and Health Outcomes Since the COVID-19 Pandemic in Northern New England” (2022). College of Nursing and Health Sciences Faculty Publications. 4.

Niles, Meredith T.; Alpaugh, Mattie; Bertmann, Farryl; Belarmino, Emily H.; Bliss, Sam; Laurent, Jennifer; Malacarne, Jonathan; McCarthy, Ashley; Merrill, Scott; Schattman, Rachel E.; and Yerxa, Kathryn, “Home Food Production and Food Security Since the COVID-19 Pandemic” (2021). College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Faculty Publications. 189.

Baily, Megan, Bell, Kathleen P., Crawley, Andrew, Gabe, Todd, Malacarne, J.G., Rubin, Jonathan. (2021). Economic Impacts of Investments in Food and Agricultural Processing Infrastructure in Maine.

Boucher, S. R., Carter, M. R., Flatnes, J. E., Lybbert, T. J., Malacarne, J. G., Marenya, P., & Paul, L. A. (2021). Bundling stress tolerant seeds and insurance for more resilient and productive small-scale agriculture (No. w29234). National Bureau of Economic Research.

Annis, S., Calderwood, L., Phanning, P., Ishaq, S., Malacarne, J., Zhang, Y. (2020) “2020 Wild Blueberry Research & Extension Reports”

Boucher, S., Carter, M., Lybbert, T., Malacarne, J., Marenya, P., and Paul, L.. (2019). Innovations for Drought Resilience Two Ways in Mozambique and Tanzania. MRR Innovation Lab Evidence Insight. No. 2019-02. September 2019.

Boucher, S., Carter, M., Erenstein, O., Flatnes, J.E., Lybbert, T., Malacarne, J., Marenya, P., and Paul, L.. (2019). Bundling Innovative Risk Management Technologies to Accelerate Agricultural Growth and Improve Nutrition. MRR Innovation Lab Project Report.