Abstract

This thesis attempts to measure the impacts of national monument designation on local economies by measuring changes in their average wages and employment levels. While previous studies have found generally positive impacts of conservation areas, these effects are small and may be disguising a Dutch Disease. Following the Rosen-Roback model and international trade theory, this paper uses a by-sector analysis to determine if monument designation causes a Dutch Disease negatively impacting the predicted lagging agricultural and mining sectors after a tourism boom. Effects of designation are measured at thirteen national monuments, created between 2000 and 2001, observing them over a fifteen-year window. Based on previous literature, I expect that national monuments will have a small but positive impact on local welfare, but a Dutch Disease will not follow because these rural areas have too little industry. I employed a difference-in-differences on county wide wage and employment to determine county wide welfare changes and some shifts in employment. An ordinary least squares regression is used to compare productivity between treatment and control counties. These empirical findings support my hypothesis, finding significant positive welfare effects without showing signs of a Dutch Disease. This research is another piece of evidence in how conservation is an economically beneficial use of public land.

Advisor

Ling Liu, Jancy

Department

Economics; Environmental Studies

Disciplines

Agricultural and Resource Economics | Economics | Environmental Studies

Keywords

National Monuments, Dutch Disease

Publication Date

2026

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2026 Ethan Bardoe