Christopher Costello's research concerns natural resource management and property rights under uncertainty, with a particular emphasis on information, its value, and its effect on management decisions. His work combines theoretical work from Economics with empirical analysis, often to inform policy. His topical interests include fisheries management, biological diversity, introduced species, regulation of polluting industries, and marine policy, and he frequently collaborates with researchers outside of Economics such as Statistics, Ecology, Biogeography, and Mathematics.