Robert D. Weaver, Ph.D.

Robert D. Weaver, Ph.D.

  • Professor of Agricultural Economics
203 Armsby
University Park, PA 16802

Areas of Expertise

  • Nonlinear, stochastic, dynamic system solution and simulation
  • Applied econometrics
  • Household and firm-level choice & performance
  • Computational simulation
  • Applied game modeling
  • Valuation of and economic adaptation to extreme events (e.g. climate change)

Education

  • B.S. Economics Carleton College
  • Ph.D., Economics, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Bio and vitae are available on Personal website

Research Interests

My areas of research include microeconomic analysis of policy problems involving dynamic, spatial, and agent-level uncertainty where little is known about the underlying characteristics of randomness impacting economic performance.  Applications have spanned a variety of complex system settings including vertical supply chains, spatial networks generating spatial transmission of price volatility, and movement of market and nonmarket goods and services.   Projects also have focused on the dynamic, spatial, and stochastic transmission or movement in the environmental impacts of private economic decisions.  

Recent Selected Publications

Weaver, R. D. (Co-Author with Sung Hoon Chung and Hyun Woo Jeon) (2020). Sustainable Management of Remanufacturing in Dynamic Supply Systems. Spatial Economics and Networks. 20(3) 703-731.

Weaver, R.D. and Y. Moon. (2020). Pricing Perishables: Robust Price Assurance. International Journal of Food System Dynamics. 11(1) 39-51.

Weaver R.D. and Y. Moon. (2018). Pricing Perishables with Uncertain Demand, Substitutes, and Consumer Heterogeneity. International Journal of Food System Dynamics. 9 (5). 484-495.

Watabaji, M.D., Adrienn Molnar, Robert D. Weaver, Manoj K. Dora, Xavier Gellynck. (2016) "Information sharing and its integrative role: An empirical study of the malt barley value chain in Ethiopia." British Food Journal, Volume: 118(12):3012-3029.

Kuehne, B., Gellynck, X., and R.D. Weaver (2015) Enhancing Innovation Capacity Through Vertical, Horizontal, and Third Party Networks for Traditional Foods.  Agribusiness. 31(3) 294-313.

Chung, S. H., Terry L. Friesz, and Robert. D. Weaver (2014). "Dynamic Sustainability Games for Renewable Resources - A Computational Approach. IEEE Transactions 63:155-166.

Chung, Sung H. & Weaver, Robert D. & Friesz, Terry L., 2013. "Strategic response to pollution taxes in supply chain networks: Dynamic, spatial, and organizational dimensions," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 231(2), pages 314-327.

Kühne, Bianka, Xavier Gellynck, Robert D. Weaver, (2013) "The influence of relationship quality on the innovation capacity in traditional food chains", Supply Chain Management: An International Journal,18:1, pp.52 – 65

Chung, Sung H. & Weaver, Robert D. & Friesz, Terry L., 2012. "Oligopolies in pollution permit markets: A dynamic game approach," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(1), pages 48-56. Link

Gellynck, Xavier & Kuhne, Bianka & Weaver, Robert D., 2011. "Relationship Quality and Innovation Capacity of Chains: The Case of the Traditional Food Sector in the EU," International Journal on Food System Dynamics, International Center for Management, Communication, and Research, 2(1).

Gellynck,X., Bianka K|hne, and Robert D. Weaver. (2011). Innovation capacity of food chains: A novel approach. International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development. 3(2): 99-125.   

Weaver, Robert D., 2010. "Supply Chain and Network Performance: Metrics for Profitability, Productivity, and Efficiency," International Journal on Food System Dynamics, 1(1): 56-68.

Molnar, A. X. Gellynck, and R.D. Weaver. (2010) Chain member perception of chain performance: the role of relationship quality.  Journal of Chain and Network Science. 10(1):27-49.

Friesz, T. L, S. H. Chung and R. D. Weaver (2010), Regional Infrastructure Investment Allocation for Sustainability in Sustainable and Resilient Critical Infrastructure Systems: Simulation, Modeling, and Intelligent Engineering (Eds.: Kasthurirangan Gopalakrishnan and Srinivas Peeta), Springer-Verlag, ISBN: 978-3-642-11404-5.

Weaver, R.D. and Sung Hoon Chung (2009) “Outsourcing and Offshoring: Sector Implications for Dynamics, Growth, and Sustainability" System Dynamics and Innovation in Food Networks.  Proceedings of the 3rd International European Forum on System Dynamics and Innovation. Pp. 547-57

Weaver, R.D. (2009) "Microeconomics of Network Configuration and the Structure of Collaboration." British Food Journal. 111(8): 746-761.

Weaver, R.D. (2008) Collaborative Pull Innovation: Origins and Adoption in the New Economy, Agribusiness, 24(3): 388 - 402

Outreach and Service 

Dr. Weaver serves as an Affiliate Professor of Industrial Engineering and a member of the Operations Research Faculty.  He has served as Senior Project Officer at the National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council.  He has been a visiting scholar at I.N.R.A./Rennes; University of Toulouse (France); University of Claremont-Ferrand, France; Catholic University, Louvain-La Nerve (Belgium); Wageningen Agricultural University (Netherlands), Institute of Agricultural Development in Central and Eastern Europe, Halle, Germany, University of Ghent, Institute of Advanced Studies in Vienna (Austria), and Copenhagen Business School.  Most recently, he was a Fulbright Fellow and a visiting professor at University of Vienna.  He has consulted extensively with the World Bank, U.S.A.I.D., U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, U.S. Congress Office of Technology Assessment, Council of Environmental Quality (Executive Office of the President) and other government agencies as well as private corporations most recently on valuation of research supporting efficacy of environmental performance of patented products.  He has worked frequently in Korea on growth strategy and has had active and on-going collaborations on extended visits by colleagues from Université de Toulouse (France) and the Institute of Agricultural Economics, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel and the University of Bonn in Germany, and South China University.  Sabbatical years have included positions at the National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences; University of Rennes, France, and a Fulbright Fellowship year at Vienna University of Economics and Business in Vienna, Austria.   

Current/Recent Courses

  • AGBM 320: Markets and Prices I
  • AGBM420: Markets and Prices II
  • AEREC527: Numerical Methods 
  • AEREC536: Applied Microeconometrics