Dave Appels

David is an economist specialising in water-related topics — including water market design, impacts of water trading, and broader water management and policy. He recently managed Frontier’s project that examined the economic and social impacts of water trade in the Victorian Murray Valley. Other recent projects have included analysing permanent water market, developing a model of temporary water markets to assess the effect of changing water trading possibilities, and developing frameworks to assess the progress of water-market reform. His recent clients include the NWC, MDBC, Victorian DSE and DPI, and Transfield Services.

Prior to joining Frontier Economics in July 2006, David worked at the Productivity Commission for 6 years and co-authored the report on Rural Water Use and the Environment: The Role of Market Mechanisms (2006) as well as other research in water trading, auction design, greenhouse gas emissions and the pig meat industry.