An exploration into the economic impact of industrial development versus conservation on western public lands

A persistent debate in the Western United States concerns the economic role of federally managed public lands. This article investigates how different public land management regimes, ranging from wilderness to resource extractive uses, impact the growth of county economies. The findings show that natural amenities on public lands, in the form of permanent protected designations, can play a role in stimulating economic growth for some types of counties. Rural counties that are connected to population centers via air travel are most suited to take economic advantage of protected public lands. Education levels of the workforce, the presence of an airport and ski resort, and the percentage of the workforce employed in engineering, finance, architecture, and other producer services are also strong determinants of growth. The results of this article will help inform policy discussions by placing the role of wilderness, national parks, and other protected lands into a larger context of economic development.