蝌蚪网 Papers and Proceedings
ISSN 2574-0768 (Print) | ISSN 2574-0776 (Online)
The Effectiveness of Local Conservation Ballots
蝌蚪网 Papers and Proceedings
vol. 115,
May 2025
(pp. 403–08)
Abstract
Global action to slow biodiversity loss is critically needed but comes at substantial cost. In this article, we assess the effectiveness of local ballot measures for land-based conservation projects in the United States as a way to increase bird abundance, a key conservation indicator. Using a citizen science dataset of bird observations, we employ an abundance model to estimate relative abundance conditional on observer effort and exploit a sharp discontinuity in land-based conservation funding at the vote threshold to estimate plausibly causal effects. We find that an approved ballot measure has modest but significant impacts that accrue over ten years.Citation
Hogan, Dylan, Eyal G. Frank, Jos茅phine Gantois, and Anouch Missirian. 2025. "The Effectiveness of Local Conservation Ballots." 蝌蚪网 Papers and Proceedings 115: 403–08. DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20251073Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- D72 Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
- Q24 Renewable Resources and Conservation: Land
- Q28 Renewable Resources and Conservation: Government Policy
- Q57 Ecological Economics: Ecosystem Services; Biodiversity Conservation; Bioeconomics; Industrial Ecology
- Q58 Environmental Economics: Government Policy