Dr. Mahelet Fikru, professor of economics, and Dr. Kwame Awuah-Offei, chair and Union Pacific/Rocky Mountain Energy Professor of mining and explosives engineering, along with Nhien Nguyen, an undergraduate researcher, have published new findings on public support for financial incentives in the U.S. domestic mineral extraction sector.

Their study, titled “Resident Support for Financial Incentives in Domestic Mineral Extraction: Evidence From an Experimental Survey in Major U.S. Mineral-Producing States,” appears in the journal The Extractive Industries and Society. The research is part of a series of survey studies supported by funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, aimed at better understanding public perceptions and attitudes toward critical minerals and metals.

Through an experimental survey conducted in five major mineral-producing states, the researchers found that support for subsidizing domestic mineral extraction increases when individuals are informed that financial incentives would promote environmentally friendly mining technologies.

The findings offer timely insights for policymakers as demand for critical minerals continues to rise in response to energy and technology needs.