Sergio Alvarez is an economist interested in how natural resources and the environment contribute to human well-being through the provision of ecosystem services such as tourism, recreation, and protection from natural and human-made hazards. He is a member of the Sustainable Coastal Systems Cluster and the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida. He holds a BA in Environmental Sciences, and MS and PhD degrees in Food and Resource Economics, all from the University of Florida. Sergio has published articles on a range of topics including sustainable tourism, the impacts of hazards on socio-ecological systems, the economics of marine resources, the costs and management of biological invasions, and the value of ecosystem services such as clean water and outdoor recreation. Sergio has experience with econometrics, statistics, optimization, and survey research.
Between 2013 and 2018, Sergio served as the Chief Economist at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Sergio joined the faculty at the University of Central Florida in 2018.