Shawn McCoy

Director, UNLV Lied Center for Real Estate
Associate Professor, Economics
Expertise: Urban Economics, Environmental Economics, Health Economics

Biography

Shawn McCoy is an economics professor, who specializes in urban-, environmental-, and health-related issues.

McCoy's research focuses on identifying cause-and-effect relationships between social problems, local economies, and the environment. His published works or works in-progress have explored a wide range of topics, including: the effect of wildfires and other storm damage on real estate transactions and homeowners' perceptions of disaster risk; how mass shootings and terrorism affect communities; and connections between disease and urban development, and fracking and indoor radon levels in homes.

Education

  • Ph.D., Economics, University of Pittsburgh
  • B.A., Economics, UNLV

Search For Other Experts On

economy, environment, health & medicine, social issues

Shawn McCoy In The News

Realtor.com
In an era of strained housing affordability, new-home construction is one of the keys to easing the housing shortage. And some states are building faster than others. South Carolina, Idaho, and North Carolina lead the nation in permitting new homes, according to data from the Lied Center for Real Estate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. On the other hand, the more affordable Midwest was stagnant. UNLV looked at data from the U.S. Census Bureau in the first eight months of this year compared to 2025.
Newsweek
South Carolina, the state with the fastest-growing population in the country, is also the one that is building the most new homes, according to a new analysis by University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) researchers.
Resources Radio
Half a million mining operations have been abandoned throughout the United States, and the tailings and runoff from those mines compromise waterways—from the small scale of creeks nearby to regional impacts on watersheds.
Las Vegas Review Journal
With builders pulling back on construction plans amid a drop in sales, Las Vegas’ homebuilding slowdown is dragging more than most.

Articles Featuring Shawn McCoy

undergraduates
Campus News | June 1, 2026

A collection of top headlines featuring UNLV faculty and students.

Some early studying during the opening week of the Spring 2026 semester (Josh Hawkins/UNLV).
Campus News | February 3, 2026

A look at some of the most eye-grabbing headlines featuring UNLV faculty, staff, and students.

First day of classes.
Campus News | September 9, 2025

The top news stories starring university students and staff.