Dr. Wade Martin works primarily in the fields of risk analysis related to natural resources and environmental policy as well as local economic development. He has worked on research and development projects for Downtown Long Beach Alliance, CalRECYLES, the World Bank, U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the USDA Forest Service, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Government of Indonesia and has been a visiting scholar at Harvard Institute for International Development. This work has focused on policy analysis, risk mitigation, economic development and sustainability as well as the application of benefit-cost analysis to analyze policies and projects.

His work in the area of environmental policy and optimal use of natural resources has helped to guide management and policy decision-making at all levels of government and the private sector. Dr. Martin has published in numerous academic journals, edited three books and been a commentator on Market Place on NPR as well as for numerous newspapers. He has served as editor-in-chief of the academic journal Contemporary Economic Policy. He is currently Professor of Economics, Director of the Office of Economic Research and Director of the Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at California State University, Long Beach.