PERCEIVED HAZARD AND PRODUCT CHOICE: AN APPLICATION TO RECREATIONAL SITE CHOICE

This study improves upon the standard "dummy variable" approach to modeling fish consumption advisories by jointly estimating a "perceived hazard" model and a site choice model. The perceived hazard model overcomes the shortcomings of the dummy variable model, namely that all anglers respond equally to advisories and that all anglers know of and believe the advisories. We find that anglers' perceived hazards associated with consumption advisories do affect product (recreational site) choice. Anglers' perceptions also affect welfare measures, where the benefits of contaminant removal follow a more reasonable pattern than that of the dummy variable approach. The joint perceived hazard/product choice model is applicable to a wide variety of risky choices with which consumers are faced.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

CONSUMERS' WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR ECO-CERTIFIED WOOD PRODUCTS

We use Kriström's simple spike model to assess the factors influencing consumers' willingness to pay a premium for a variety of certified wood products. A survey of over 1600 Pennsylvania and Tennessee residents found that approximately 35% were willing to pay some positive "premium" for environmentally certified wood products. For three types of wood products (a $29 shelf, a$200 chair, and a $800 table) we find the estimated market premiums to be 12.9%, 8.5%, and 2.8%, respectively.Consumer/Household Economics,

GENERATION OF RECYCLABLES BY RURAL HOUSEHOLDS

Rising landfill costs have forced solid waste managers to consider ways to reduce the waste stream. Using survey data, models explaining the weight of recyclables generated by households are estimated for paper and glass. Results indicate that households respond to the time cost of recycling paper but not glass. The waste generation models imply total monthly willingness to pay for recycling is $5.78 per household. Waste managers may increase the weight of recycled waste stream with programs which lower perceived time costs of nonrecyclers and improve the efficiency of recyclers.Consumer/Household Economics, Environmental Economics and Policy,

EXPLAINING RURAL HOUSEHOLD PARTICIPATION IN RECYCLING

Rising landfill costs have forced solid waste managers to consider waste stream reduction alternatives such as household recycling. Explaining the factors which motivate households to recycle is important to regions where households must bear a large portion of the recycling cost because unit-based garbage disposal fees and curbside recycling are not feasible options. Empirical results indicate that residents are responsive to constraints introduced by the household production technology, such as time costs and storage space, but are not responsive to variables measuring a recycling promotional program. Promotion efforts should switch focus from broader "public good" benefits of recycling to reducing household-level household production constraints.Dropoff recycling, Household recycling participation, Rural regions, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Tourism as a Sustainable Rural Development Strategy: Building Consensus in Resident Attitudes

A survey of community leaders, broadly categorized as business people, public officials, and conservationists, was conducted to assess attitudes toward tourism in a six-county region of the Southern Appalachian Highlands of Tennessee and North Carolina. Broad support for tourism development was found across all groups, with the caveat that economic growth not take place at the expense of community character or environmental quality. In general, however, members of conservation organizations were more concerned about the negative impacts of tourism development than were business people or public officials. The methodology employed highlights issues of agreement and conflict among influential community groups. This approach can help communities engage in a consensus-building process and plan a sustainable tourism-based development strategy that is acceptable to all groups

Revenue Impacts of MPP Branded Funds: A Firm-Level Analysis

The USDA's Market Access Program (formerly Market Promotion Program) recently underwent a major change to redirect all branded products export promotion funds to small domestic firms and cooperatives. The redirection responded to criticisms by the General Accounting Office of past allocations of branded products export promotion funds to large, experienced exporters. This study uses a firm-level analysis to examine whether firm size and export experience matter in how effectively firms use the promotion funds to increase their revenues. The results support neither the GAO criticisms nor the recent program redirection.International Relations/Trade,

REVENUE IMPACTS OF MPP BRANDED FUNDS: A FIRM LEVEL ANALYSIS

The USDA recently redirected the Market Access Program (MAP) to allocate all branded products export promotion funds to small firms and cooperatives. The redirection was, in part, a response to reports by the General Accounting Office that were critical of past allocations of export promotion funds to large, experienced exporters. This study uses a firm level analysis to examine firms' effectiveness in using Market Promotion Program (MPP, which is now the MAP) funds to increase revenues. Whereas point estimates suggested that smaller firms were more effective in translating MPP funds into increased revenue than larger firms, these point estimates for small firms were statistically indistinguishable from zero. In contrast, large firms showed an increase in revenue of greater than one dollar for every dollar of MPP funds. Further, the revenue increase was statistically significant. Thus, the firm level analysis supports neither the GAO hypotheses nor the recent program changes.export promotion programs, export sales, export revenues, Market Promotion Program, firm-level analysis, joint estimation, Financial Economics,

The Antiquities Act, National Monuments, and the Regional Economy

Large, landscape-scale national monuments have long been controversial. It has been claimed that large monuments harm local economies by restricting growth of the grazing, timber, mining, and energy industries. Others have asserted that large monuments aid economic growth by reducing reliance on volatile commodity markets and fostering tourism growth. In this study, we use a synthetic control approach to measure the average causal effect of nine national monument designations on county-level per capita income. We find no evidence that monument designation affected per capita income in any of 20 counties hosting nine large (\u3e50,000 acres) national monuments established under the Antiquities Act (six monuments) or by legislative action (three monuments). The broad economic claims of both advocates and critics of large national monuments have little empirical support. The absence of a designation effect for large national monuments is likely due to the attributes of federal land and the legal constraints under which it is managed

The Welfare Effects of Restricting Off-Highway Vehicle Access to Public Lands

Off highway vehicle (OHV) use is a rapidly growing outdoor activity that results in a host of environmental and management problems. Federal agencies have been directed to develop travel management plans to improve recreation experiences, reduce social conflicts and diminish environmental impacts of OHVs. We examine the effect of land access restrictions on the welfare of OHV enthusiasts in Utah using Murdock’s (2006) unobserved heterogeneity random utility model. Our models indicate that changing access to public lands from fully “open” to “limited” results in relatively small welfare losses, but that prohibiting access results in much larger welfare losses.Off-highway Vehicles, Recreational Access, Unobserved Heterogeneity, Random Utility Model, Environmental Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use,

The Economic Impact of Bear River Heritage Area Tourism

Covering seven counties in northern Utah and southeastern Idaho in the United States, the Bear River Heritage Area (BRHA) is recognized as a State Heritage Area by both states, and consists of a consortium of heritage sites, attractions, and businesses with historic ties to the region