SURFING A WAVE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH

Thomas McGregor and Samuel Wills

No 170, OxCarre Working Papers from Oxford Centre for the Analysis of Resource Rich Economies, University of Oxford

Abstract: We investigate whether the geographic determinants of growth extend to natural amenities. We combine data on spatial and temporal variation in the quality of over 5000 surf breaks globally with data on local economic performance, proxied by night-time lights. We document a strong association between natural amenity quality and local economic development. Economic activity grows faster near good surf breaks; following the discovery of new breaks, or the technology needed to ride them; and during El Niño events that generate high-quality waves. The effects are concentrated in nearby towns and emerging economies, and population changes are consistent with tourism.

Keywords: Natural amenities; economic growth; new economic geography; natural (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 O44 O47 Q26 Q51 Q56 R11 R12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016-02-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-env, nep-gro and nep-pr~
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Related works:
Working Paper: Surfing a wave of economic growth (2017)
Working Paper: Surfing a Wave of Economic Growth (2017)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:oxf:oxcrwp:170

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