A Spatial Analysis of Amenity and Regional Economic Growth in Northeast Region

Mulugeta Kahsai (), Tesfa Gebremedhin () and Peter Schaeffer
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Mulugeta Kahsai: Regional Research Institute, West Virginia University
Tesfa Gebremedhin: Division of Resource Management, West Virginia University

Working Papers from Regional Research Institute, West Virginia University

Abstract: Amenities are expected to impact regional economic growth by affecting growth in population, employment, income, and house values. This study assess whether the 299 counties in the Northeast (NE) region of the US can build and pursue a growth strategy that depend on their local and neighborhood amenities (natural and built). It extends previous studies by estimating a simultaneous spatial Durbin model (SDM) using the two stages least square method. Historical and cultural amenities and water based recreational amenities are found to play a positive role in shaping the growth of population in the northeast region of the US. The role of natural amenities, land and winter based amenities is found to be negative or insignificant. One of the important findings of the study is the positive role of surrounding counties historical and cultural amenities in the growth of population and employment densities. Overall there is no evidence of a consistent and strong relationship between amenities and regional economic growth and the results can be termed as mixed and inconclusive.

Keywords: regional economic growth; spatial durbin model; two stages least square (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C21 C31 R11 R12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 16 pages
Date: 2010
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Related works:
Journal Article: A SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF AMENITY AND REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NORTHEAST REGION (2011)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:rri:wpaper:2010wp09

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