"Changing Preferences for Environmental Amenities in the Coastal Zone: The Implications of Population Growth for Natural Resource Values and Policy"

Robert J. Johnston, Ph.D.

Synopsis:

As residential development continues in non-urban coastal communities, the existing population is continuously supplemented by new in-migrants. These newer residents may have preferences for development and conservation that differ markedly from those of longer-term coastal residents. These differences may, in turn, result in gradual policy shifts that tend to benefit newer residents while at the same time reducing the quality of life of long-term residents. This presentation illustrates a conceptual framework through which such changes may be addressed, and provides evidence that the environmental values of new residents indeed differ from those of longer-term residents. Potential implications for development and conservation are discussed, along with the role of assumed property rights in the determination of appropriate policy actions.