Derivation of Unit-Day-Values for Recreation Benefit Valuation in Water Resource Planning Based on a Comprehensive Theoretical Framework

摘要

The study concerns the provision of water-based recreation from federal investments. Access to water-based recreation opportunities are provided without charge. Since the user does not pay, the issue becomes: how much recreation access should be provided by the federal government for private consumption. The agencies have assumed that as long as benefits exceed costs then additional increments of recreation opportunities should be provided to the extent that Congress authorizes and appropriates the funds. The evidence suggests that federally provided water-based recreation is in reality a political process, furthermore the present recommended procedures even if correctly implemented do not lead to Parato optimal economic efficiency.