Jonathan McCarthy exudes energy. It’s fitting, therefore, to find that emerging energy (alternative energy sources) is a major source of interest for him.

“Once that first domino was knocked down when I was an electrician, I was writing my own future without knowing it,” says McCarthy.

McCarthy came to the University of Cincinnati a little later than most undergraduates, going to work in construction after graduating from Wyoming High School, adding that he investigated several academic disciplines before choosing economics as a major.

“I worked as an electrician first,” he says. He cites an example of one hospital he worked in. “Each room has six types of plugs per breathing device, with a primary and a secondary, plus four backups — that’s how important electricity is.”

Prior to graduating with his bachelor’s degree in 2010, he wanted to pursue an independent study in emerging energy with Olivier Parent, assistant professor of economics. Parent made McCarthy a deal he couldn’t refuse: take his spatial econometrics course, while pursuing a graduate degree in applied economics.

At the recommendation of UC faculty, McCarthy entered the graduate program in the fall 2010, noting that this decision that was “the best move he ever made.” 

His interests in renewable electricity motivated him to take geographical information systems courses out of the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences, as well as courses in sustainability out of the College of Engineering & Applied Science. In 2011, he attended a graduate summer school in natural resource management and policy offered by the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration in Bergen, Norway, where he further investigated the aggregated European power market.

In the summer of 2011, McCarthy worked with a renowned scholar crafting new economic analysis of the Green Third Industrial Revolution. He graduated in December of 2011 with a master’s degree in applied economics (with a concentration in urban and regional analysis) from the UC Carl H. Lindner College of Business. He had a wealth of opportunities before him.

“My degree is phenomenally valuable for understanding, locating, and creating large datasets,” he says.

McCarthy then began an internship with Woodrow Clark II, co-recipient with former Vice President Al Gore of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for his work on the Third Report by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. He worked with Clark in his offices in Los Angeles.

“It took that validation in Norway to walk into Beverly Hills and know that, yeah, I can contribute,” he says. “Nobody’s done what I’m doing; nobody has answered the questions we are asking.”

What began as an internship has resulted in a co-authorship of “The Next Economics in a Green Third Industrial Revolution” with Clark. The paper is being published in Contemporary Economic Policy. McCarthy and Clark have continued their work together with other articles, and have no plans to end their collaboration anytime soon.

 “I don’t see anything stopping this passion, the pursuit of green energy is inevitable,” McCarthy says. His master’s thesis focused on European energy markets, which has the potential to be another co-authorship between Clark and McCarthy. With McCarthy’s work experience and variety of academic credentials, further academic pursuits will no doubt factor into his future.

In the end, McCarthy accepted a position with the Nielsen Company, a position that has allowed him to gain market analysis experience and offer time to support his writing endeavors in energy economics.

Meanwhile, McCarthy continues to tap into his personal power to reach his full potential.