Paul Watkinson is an environmental economist and independent researcher exploring nature, business and artificial intelligence.
I study how businesses respond when nature constrains them, and what makes protecting or restoring nature part of their response. This site brings together my writing on economics, corporate strategy and AI.
Natural capital
Economic incentives
Businesses rely on nature, but that reliance does not always make protecting or restoring it financially attractive. I explore the gap between the value of nature to society and the incentives facing an individual business.
Business strategy
Choices and consequences
Businesses can protect or restore nature, change their operations, switch suppliers, share risks or leave an activity. I examine why different responses are chosen, and who gains or bears the costs.
Artificial intelligence
Research and judgement
I’m exploring how AI can support wider and more reliable research. My interest is in evidence that can be checked, assumptions that can be questioned and workflows that keep human judgement accountable.
Current research: When Nature Constrains the Firm
The programme will combine a broad review of company evidence with detailed comparisons of business decisions. Food and agriculture provide the starting point, with selected contrasts across other sectors.
I will also build and test an AI-assisted research workflow for finding and comparing evidence. The tests will assess both its reliability and my ability to understand, modify and maintain it.