The Center for Economic Research and Policy Analysis (CERPA) is a multidisciplinary unit of Appalachian's Walker College of Business. The focus is to improve policy and decision-making by producing rigorous research and disseminating relevant information on current economic and policy issues. To that end, CERPA maintains research programs in specific areas of economic development, environment and energy and public finance.

The Center hosted the International Experimental Economics and Environmental Policy Conference in 2004 drawing leading economists from around the world and across the country to explore a wide range of environmental policy issues, including the assessment of environmental services, over-exploitation of common resource, and disclosure and discovery of environmental violations, wind hazards risks, tradable fishing and emission allowances and behavioral responses to political regulatory incentives.