Kirk Evans Hamilton

May 13, 1951 – February 6, 2024
Kirk Evans Hamilton, age 72, passed away in Washington DC after an illness of several months. Kirk was born in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada. He is survived by his father Rudolph Hamilton and brother Kevin Hamilton.

Kirk graduated from Queen's University in Ontario, Canada in 1972 receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Engineering. After graduating, Kirk joined Statistics Canada where he became a recognized researcher in national accounting. There he developed a keen interest in environmental issues which led him back to academia. He entered University College, University of London earning a Master of Science in Environmental and Resource Economics in 1993 and a PhD in Economics in 1995 with a thesis entitled Sustainable Development and Green National Accounts.

Kirk's graduate work laid the foundation for a long career in environmental economics which he pursued while working at the World Bank after leaving academia. He became a well-recognized expert in the field, doing extensive empirical work and providing estimates of sustainability measures for a large group of nations. This very useful and original work was taken up by leading environmental economists such as Martin Weitzman at Harvard and Partha Dasgupta at Cambridge. Kirk's extensive published research on natural resource rents, savings rates and sustainable development as well as his public lectures have had a significant impact on the way public policies are formulated to reflect environmental concerns in a wide range of countries. A valuable source for this material is contained in the book "Where is the Wealth of Nations, Measuring Capital for the 21st Century" published by the World Bank and available at http://piketty.pse.ens.fr/files/WorldBank2006.pdf.

Kirk was also an accomplished photographer and built up an impressive collection of photographs of wildlife in Southern Africa over more than a decade and a dozen trips. As part of his World Bank work Kirk also provided advice to host countries on developing sustainable tourism and wildlife protection programs with local participation. Kirks photographs can be viewed at https://kirkhamilton.smugmug.com/.

Kirk had a wide set of friends and colleagues in Canada, the US and the UK. His gentle and thoughtful manner, combined with intelligence and a dry sense of humor have been a joy for all who knew him. He will be sadly missed.

No formal services are planned. Those wishing to mark Kirk's passing are asked to contribute to the International Rescue Committee, a charity which Kirk long supported and through which tribute gifts may be arranged at https://help.rescue.org/donate/tax-deductible-gift.