The Cost of Endangered Species Protection: Evidence from Auctions for Natural Resources

Branko Bošković and Linda Nøstbakken

No 5934, CESifo Working Paper Series from CESifo

Abstract: This paper examines the effect that endangered species regulation has on natural resource development. Specifically, we use data from competitive auctions to estimate the effect that land-use regulation protecting endangered caribou in the Canadian province of Alberta has on the price producers pay for the right to extract oil. We exploit a regression discontinuity design to evaluate how prices differ along regulation boundaries that constrain resource development. The auction format and the regulation discontinuity allow use to measure the total cost of the regulation. We find that producers pay 24% less on average for oil leases that are regulated and that the total net present value cost of the regulation exceeds $1.15 billion for leases sold between 2003-2012, all of which is borne by the government. In spite of these costs, the populations of endangered caribou remain in widespread decline.

Keywords: endangered species regulation; auctions; natural resources; oil (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D44 L71 Q52 Q58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Related works:
Journal Article: The cost of endangered species protection: Evidence from auctions for natural resources (2017)
Working Paper: The Cost of Endangered Species Protection: Evidence from Auctions for Natural Resources (2016)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ces:ceswps:_5934

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