Abigail Okrent is a senior economist in the Diet, Safety, and Health Economics Branch of the Food Economics Division at the Economic Research Service (ERS). Her research focuses on consumer food choices and analyzing the complex linkages between these choices and nutrition and health outcomes.

Abigail returned to ERS in 2021 after working as a senior analyst at the National Science Foundation (NSF). At NSF, she co-authored reports as part of the congressionally mandated 2022 Science and Engineering Indicators. Prior to NSF, Abigail worked in the Food Markets Branch of the Food Economics Division at ERS. As a research agricultural economist, Abigail conducted research on using scanner data in food policy analysis as well as on the impacts of U.S. farm and food policies on obesity and social welfare. Abigail was also an economist at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis and developed statistics on the Benchmark Input-Output and GDP-by-Industry Accounts.

Abigail received her M.S. (2006) and Ph.D. (2010) in Agricultural and Resource Economics from University of California, Davis. She also received a B.A. in Economics from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in 2000.

Okrent, A., and A. Burke. 2021. Science and Engineering Indicators 2022. The STEM Labor Force of Today: Scientists, Engineers and Skilled Technical Workers, NSB-2021-2. Alexandria, VA: National Science Board.

Okrent, A., and A. Burke. 2021. “Where Are They Now? U.S.-Trained Science and Engineering Doctorates on Temporary Visas Working in the United States,” InfoBrief NSF 21-336. Alexandria, VA: National Science Foundation.

Khan, B., C. Robbins, and A. Okrent. 2020. Science and Engineering Indicators 2020: The State of U.S. Science and Engineering, NSB-2020-1. Alexandria, VA: National Science Board.

Muth, M., A. Okrent. C. Zhen, and S. Karns. 2019. Using Scanner Data for Food Policy Research. San Diego, CA: Elsevier.

Zhen, C., M. Muth, A. Okrent, S. Karns, D. Brown, and P. Siegel. 2019. “Do Differences in Reported Expenditures Between Household Scanner Data and Expenditure Surveys Matter in Health Policy Research?” Health Economics 28(6): 782–800.

Çakır, M., J.V. Balagtas, A.M. Okrent, M. Urbina-Ramirez. 2019. “Effects of Package Size on Household Food Purchases,” Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy 43(2): 781–801.

Alston, J.M., and A.M. Okrent. 2017. Farm and Food Policy and Obesity. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

MacEwan, J., A. Okrent. 2017. “Chapter 6. A Review of US Food and Nutrition Programs and Their Effectiveness in Assuring Adequate Nutrition and Improving Nutritional Choices for Program Participants,” in Handbook on International Food and Agricultural Policies, vol II, eds. T. Josling, D. Roberts. Hackensack, NJ: World Scientific Publishing.

Alston, J.M., and A.M. Okrent. 2017. “Chapter 7. The Causes and Consequences of Obesity, and the Effects of Obesity Policies on Consumer Incentives and Health Outcomes,” in Handbook on International Food and Agricultural Policies, vol II. eds. T. Josling, D. Roberts. Hackensack, NJ: World Scientific Publishing.

Alston, J.M., J.P. MacEwan, and A.M. Okrent. 2016. “The Economics of Obesity Policy,” Annual Reviews of Resource Economics 8: 443–465.

Alston, J.M., J.P. MacEwan, and A.M. Okrent. 2016. “The Effects of US Public Agricultural R&D on US Obesity and its Social Costs,” Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy 38:498–520.