Northern Economics

What Northern Economics does

Northern Economics, Inc. is an economic and social science consulting firm founded circa 1984 and headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska, with a second office in Seattle. The firm delivers economic impact analyses, benefit-cost studies, feasibility assessments, fiscal impact modeling, demographic projections, market analyses, and environmental impact statement support to federal, state, and local government agencies as well as private-sector clients. Its practice is concentrated in fisheries economics, oil and gas development, aviation and airports, marine transportation and harbors, renewable and conventional energy, community and regional development, and infrastructure planning — with deep specialization in Alaska-specific economic issues and the federal regulatory environment under NEPA, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and related frameworks.

The firm's analytical work relies on a combination of proprietary and licensed modeling tools. The MAG-PLAN Alaska Model is a region-specific economic impact model developed for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to evaluate OCS exploration, development, and production impacts. Northern Economics also deploys the IMPLAN input-output system for stimulus and multiplier effects analysis and the REMI PI+ dynamic forecasting model for macroeconomic projection. The technical bench comprises principal and senior economists, socioeconomic analysts, and project consultants, with advanced degrees from Oregon State University, Virginia Tech, University of Hawaii, and Michigan State, and prior tenures at the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, New England Fishery Management Council, NOAA Fisheries Science Centers, and Western Pacific Fishery Management Council.

Northern Economics generates revenue through project-based consulting contracts awarded primarily via RFPs from federal, state, and local government agencies, supplemented by direct engagement with Alaska Native corporations, port and harbor authorities, healthcare organizations, and industry associations. Pricing is negotiated per engagement based on scope, complexity, and duration; no public rate card or standard pricing tiers exist. The firm has executed work across Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, the Mid-Atlantic, New England, the Pacific Islands, and internationally (Papua New Guinea, American Samoa). Customer engagements are typically multi-disciplinary, with Northern Economics often functioning as the socioeconomic subconsultant to engineering and environmental primes such as SWCA, Stantec, HDR, Jacobs (formerly CH2M Hill), and SLR International.

Name

Northern Economics

Legal name

Northern Economics, Inc.

Website

https://northerneconomics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Northern Economics is an Anchorage, Alaska-based economic and social science consulting firm serving federal, state, and local government agencies with economic impact, benefit-cost, feasibility, and environmental impact analyses across fisheries, oil and gas, transportation, and infrastructure sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Consulting Services

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Administration of Economic Programs (9261), Administration of General Economic Programs (926110)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic & Macroeconomic Research (BPAHALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ), Trade, Industry & Economic Development Administration (BPAIAAAL), Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

Keywords

• Economic consulting services
• Benefit-cost analysis
• Economic impact modeling
• Socioeconomic analysis
• Feasibility study consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Anchorage

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Consulting Contracts: Project-based consulting engagements with federal, state, and local government agencies for economic analysis, feasibility studies, environmental impact assessments, and policy analysis. Projects are typically awarded through RFP processes and include detailed economic research and analysis deliverables.
2. Private Sector Consulting: Economic analysis and feasibility studies for private sector clients including Alaska Native corporations, port authorities, airport operators, healthcare organizations, and industry associations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

Northern Economics is an economic and social science consulting firm that provides project-based economic analyses for federal, state, and local government agencies as well as private sector clients. Core offerings include economic impact analyses, benefit-cost analyses, feasibility studies, environmental impact assessments, fiscal impact analyses, demographic projections, and market analyses, supported by modeling tools such as IMPLAN, REMI PI+, and the proprietary MAG-PLAN Alaska model.

Product overview

Northern Economics is an economic consulting firm offering a broad portfolio of advisory services, not a unified software product or platform. Its offerings span multiple sectors including fisheries economics, oil and gas development, aviation and airports, marine transportation and harbors, community and regional development, energy (renewable and conventional), and infrastructure planning. The firm conducts economic impact analyses using tools such as IMPLAN input-output models, REMI macroeconomic models, and MAG-PLAN Alaska economic impact models. Services include feasibility studies, benefit-cost analyses, fiscal analyses, market analyses, demographic projections, and environmental impact statement support. Projects are typically client-specific engagements rather than packaged software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Economic Consulting Services
• Economic Impact Modeling and Analysis
• Benefit-Cost Analysis
• Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Socioeconomic Analysis

Quantifiable outcome

• Cordova RAISE Grant Success: $20 million awarded for South Harbor improvements based on Northern Economics' benefit-cost analysis
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• SWCA Environmental ConsultantsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNorthern Economics worked as subcontractor to SWCA Environmental Consultants on the South Fork Wind Farm Environmental Impact Statement, developing sections on commercial fisheries, demographics, employment, environmental justice, and navigation.
• Agnew::Beck ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNorthern Economics was part of Agnew::Beck Consulting's team for the Northwest Arctic Borough Comprehensive Plan update, responsible for population and economic analysis sections.
• R&M ConsultantsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTeamed with R&M Consultants on multiple Alaska port and harbor projects including St. Paul Harbor Feasibility Study and Homer Deep Water Dock Feasibility Study.
• StantecminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorked as subconsultant to Stantec on Valdez Airport Master Plan and as a team member for Wasilla Train Depot Brownfield Area-Wide Planning Study.
• HDR, Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNorthern Economics worked under contract with HDR for Knik Arm Bridge EIS and other transportation infrastructure projects.
• ENSRminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorked under contract with ENSR (later acquired by AECOM) on Northeast National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska IAP EIS and Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge EIS.
• Hattenburg Dilley & Linnell, LLCminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPart of team led by Hattenburg Dilley & Linnell for St. Mary's Airport Planning and RSA Practicability Study.
• SLR InternationalminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAssisted SLR in preparation of Greater Mooses Tooth development environmental documents and Liberty Development Project Environmental Impact Assessment.
• PND EngineersminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated with PND Engineers on Sitka Harbor System Master Plan, providing economic analysis and rate setting expertise.
• Industrial Economics, Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAssisted Industrial Economics, Inc. in developing Offshore Environmental Cost Model fiscal impacts module for BOEM.
• LynkerminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNorthern Economics completed benefit-cost analysis for PROTECT Grant proposal that Lynker drafted with American Samoa Department of Port Administration.
• CH2M HillminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorked under contract with CH2M Hill (now part of Jacobs) on multiple projects including Foothills West Transportation Access Study and Cordova Oil Spill Response Facility EIS.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• RTI International: Nonprofit research institute providing economic and policy analysis to federal and state agencies. Comparable in socioeconomic, environmental, and benefit-cost analysis services, though operating at a much larger scale and broader scientific research portfolio.
• Tetra Tech: Global consulting and engineering firm with a substantial environmental and socioeconomic analysis practice. Frequently serves as a prime on the same federal EIS and BOEM/BLM contracts where Northern Economics works as a subconsultant.
• Charles River Associates: Large global consulting firm providing economic and financial analysis across energy, environment, and regulation. Overlaps with Northern Economics in environmental economics and benefit-cost work for federal clients, but at significantly greater scale and broader scope.
• The Brattle Group: Global economics consulting firm with deep expertise in energy, environmental, and regulatory economics. Comparable at the practice-area level (NEPA economic analysis, energy markets) but operates at a much larger scale and broader geographic footprint than Northern Economics.
• ICF International: Major consulting services firm with a large environmental and energy practice serving federal agencies (EPA, DOE, BOEM). Competes with Northern Economics for federal environmental impact analysis and socioeconomic consulting contracts, often as a prime contractor.

Others

• Stantec: Global engineering and consulting firm that engages Northern Economics as a subconsultant on Alaska infrastructure and airport projects. Included as an ecosystem partner/prime rather than a direct competitor, since Northern Economics serves as subconsultant on Stantec-led work.

Regional players

• Cascadia Consulting Group: Pacific Northwest-based environmental and economic consulting firm. Comparable in size and service mix (economic impact, sustainability, benefit-cost analysis) and serves public-agency clients across Washington, Oregon, and Alaska, making it a regional peer with similar practice breadth.

Direct peers

• ECONorthwest: Portland, OR-based economics consulting firm focused on the Pacific Northwest. Highly comparable in service mix (economic impact, benefit-cost, fiscal analysis) and customer base (state, regional, and local government agencies), making it a Pacific Northwest analog of Northern Economics.
• McKinley Research Group: Anchorage-based economics and research consulting firm serving Alaska government, Native, and private-sector clients. Closest direct competitor in Alaska economic consulting, with overlapping practice areas in fisheries, oil & gas, and community economic impact analysis.
• Industrial Economics, Inc. Cambridge, MA-based economic consulting firm specializing in natural resource, environmental, and regulatory economics for federal agencies. Directly comparable to Northern Economics because both serve BOEM (Northern Economics noted collaborating on the OECM fiscal module) and offer parallel benefit-cost, environmental impact, and socioeconomic analysis services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/northerneconomics
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/northern-economics-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Northern Economics