Ghandi, Abbas

Abbas Ghandi
Former Research Staff, Joint Program

Focus Areas

Energy Transition

Bio

Dr. Ghandi was a Post Doctorate Research Associate in Transportation Economics at the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change. Following the completion of his Ph.D. in Transportation Technology and Policy at the Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS) at the University of California at Davis, he continued as a Post Doctorate Research Scholar in Energy Policy at ITS. Prior to joining MIT, he also did a Post Doctorate Fellowship in Energy Systems Modeling and Analysis at the University of Texas at Austin.

At MIT, Dr. Ghandi led the transport sector of the Joint Program’s Economic Projection and Policy Analysis (EPPA) model, which is a multi-region, multi-sector dynamic representation of the global economy. Through the MIT Energy Initiative Mobility of Future study, his responsibilities include updating the representation of alternative vehicles and potential improvements in internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The goal of the study is to examine how complex interactions between engine technology options, fuel options, refueling infrastructure, consumer choice, public transit options, new transportation modalities, and government policy might shape the future landscape for mobility.

Peer-reviewed Publications:

An Analysis of the Economic Efficiency of Oil Contracts: A Dynamic Model of the Rumaila Oil Field in Iraq. Ghandi, A. and Lin Lawell, C.-Y.C. (2017). Working Paper.

Energy Intensity and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Oil Production in the Eagle Ford Shale. Sonia Yeh, Abbas Ghandi, Bridget R. Scanlon, Adam R. Brandt, Hao Cai, Michael Q. Wang, Kourosh Vafi, and Robert C. Reedy. Energy & Fuels. Article ASAP. (http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.6b02916).

On the Rate of Return and Risk Factors to International Oil Companies in Iran’s Buy-Back Service Contracts. Ghandi, A. and Lin Lawell, C.-Y.C. Energy Policy, Volume 103, April 2017, Pages 16-29, ISSN 0301-4215, . (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421517300034)

Ghandi, A. and Lin, C.-Y.C. (2014). Oil and Gas Service Contracts around the World: A Review. Energy Strategy Reviews, 3, 63-71. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211467X14000170)

  • Identified as one of the five most downloaded Energy Strategy Reviews papers in 2014.

Ghandi, A. and Lin, C.-Y.C. (2012). Do Iran’s Buy-Back Service Contracts Lead To Optimal Production? The Case of Soroosh and Nowrooz. Energy Policy, 42, 181-190. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421511009682)

Education + Credentials
Ph.D. Transportation Technology & Policy. University of California at Davis (2013)
M.A. Economics. University of California at Davis (2006)
B.S. Chemical Engineering. University of Tehran, Iran (2002)

Recent Publications

Journal Article
Paltsev, S, A. Ghandi, J. Morris and H. Chen (2021). Economics of Energy & Environmental Policy, 11(1) (doi: 10.5547/2160-5890.11.1.spal) [PDF]
Journal Article
Ghandi, A. and S. Paltsev (2020). Transportation Research Part D, 87(Article 102524) (doi: 10.1016/j.trd.2020.102524)
Joint Program Technical Note
Ghandi, A. and S. Paltsev (2019). Joint Program Technical Note, February, 26 p. [PDF]

News + Media

News Brief
Joint Program News | 
Mar 20, 2024
In The News
Yahoo Finance | 
Nov 07, 2021
News Release
MIT News | 
Aug 06, 2021
News Release
Joint Program News | 
Sep 29, 2020
News Release
Joint Program News | 
Jun 18, 2018
News Release
Joint Program News | 
Apr 14, 2017