The Effect of Protected Federal Lands on Economic Prosperity in the Non-metropolitan West

Ray Rasker, Patricia H. Gude and Mark Delorey

Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy, 2013, vol. 43, issue 2

Abstract: The purpose of the study is to determine whether protected federal lands in the non-metropolitan U.S. West are associated with increased or decreased economic performance. A subset of federal lands managed by the National Park Service, the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, or the Fish and Wildlife Service was considered protected and primari-ly managed for conservation. Generalized estimating equations were used to regress ten eco-nomic measures on protected land area while accounting for various confounding factors in-cluding presence of other natural amenities and degree of access to markets. Three economic measures were positively associated with protected public lands: per capita income (2010), growth in per capita income (1990-2010), and growth in per capita investment income (1990-2010). The study finds that, on average, counties with national parks, wilderness, and other forms of protected public lands benefit through increased economic performance.

Keywords: Community/Rural/Urban Development; Environmental Economics and Policy; Land Economics/Use (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:jrapmc:243952

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.243952

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