Global economic modeling expert grows research program
Maksym Chepeliev, a leading international scholar recognized prominently for his work in quantitative analysis, has been hired as an associate professor of agricultural economics through Purdue’s Moveable Dream Hires program.
“I specialize in developing global economic databases and models used by researchers around the world to assess different policy issues, from nutrition to the environment,” Chepeliev says.
Chepeliev, who previously served as a research associate professor in the department, will grow his research program while also serving as associate director for economywide modeling with GTAP, a global network of researchers and policy makers conducting quantitative analysis of international policy issues.
He’s also looking forward to teaching a graduate-level course on global change and the challenges of sustainably feeding a growing planet.
“The course dives into different dimensions of the issue, including food loss and waste, agricultural productivity, demographic changes, weather and climate impacts, among others,” he says. “It has a hands-on part, using a simulation model that allows students to assess impacts of the challenges we’re discussing."
Nicole Widmar, department head and professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, expresses excitement about Chepeliev’s role. “Maksym brings internationally recognized leadership in global economic modeling and a research program connecting agricultural trade, food and nutrition, climate, energy and natural resources issues.
Maksym has demonstrated a distinctive ability to publish at the highest levels while also producing analysis that informs governmental and policy decisions and informs activities at major international organizations," Widmar says.
"He will strengthen our research and graduate programs, expand opportunities for interdisciplinary and international collaboration, and help ensure Purdue Agricultural Economics remains a leader in policy-relevant economic analysis.”
Fruitful Interdisciplinary Collaborations
Chepeliev has published 51 peer-reviewed journal articles in outlets including The Lancet, Nature, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Nature Food and The Economic Journal. In 2024, his paper, “The War in Ukraine, Food Security and the Role for Europe,” published in the journal EuroChoices, was recognized as a top-cited paper by the European Association of Agricultural Economists. He’s contributed to multiple flagship reports by international organizations, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
Chepeliev is also involved with the EAT–Lancet Commission on Healthy, Sustainable, and Just Food Systems, a global initiative that brings together researchers to “set global targets for human and planetary health.” Along with colleague Dominique van der Mensbrugghe, Chepeliev is co-leading the Purdue team in creating a framework for modeling healthy diets from sustainable food systems.
An Early Interest in Economics
Chepeliev was raised in Ukraine, the son of two economists. By high school, he knew he wanted to follow the same path. “I was really excited about doing economic modeling, and I was looking for degrees that would develop that skill,” he says.
He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economic modeling at the National Technical University of Ukraine in Kyiv, and a PhD at the Institute for Economics and Forecasting at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. His dissertation focused on modeling the effects of domestic energy subsidy reform.
As he looks forward to his new position, Chepeliev says it will provide him even more opportunities to focus multidisciplinary work with collaborators.
“The best papers, the work that I like the most, come from collaborative efforts,” Chepeliev says.
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