Essays on Land Use Policy, Conservation Inventives, and Agricultural Technology Adoption

Abstract

This dissertation consists of three essays on agricultural and resource economics.

The first essay investigates the effectiveness of zoning with quantity restrictions as a tool for managing exurban development patterns beyond the urban fringe. Using a quasi-experimental research design focusing on a novel statewide growth management policy in Maryland, I estimate the effects of prohibiting major residential subdivisions in agricultural and conservation areas using a two-stage triple-difference econometric model. The results indicate that the policy significantly altered exurban development patterns, reducing the probability of development by 49 percent on parcels for which the policy binds, compared to the counterfactual rate of development.

The second essay evaluates the role of spatial coordination incentives in restoring contiguous wildlife habitat, specifically examining a threshold bonus scheme within the Oregon Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). By linking parcel enrollment with high-resolution stream network data, the analysis investigates endogenous spatial interactions among enrollees. Contrary to the assumption of minimal impact, the findings reveal that existing streambank enrollment significantly raises the likelihood of neighboring enrollment, particularly after the bonus payment threshold is met. This indicates that the bonus scheme generates positive spatial externalities, accelerating enrollment among neighboringparcels and facilitating watershed-level restoration goals.

The third essay examines the evolution and economic impacts of western corn rootworm resistance to genetically engineered (Bt) corn in the United States. Using Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) data from 2005, 2010, and 2016, the study analyzes seed and insecticide choices to quantify the regional costs of resistance. The findings demonstratethat resistance is a distinct regional phenomenon that imposes significant economic burdens; specifically, rootworm resistance in the worst-affected regions cost farmers approximately $100 million in 2010 and $75 million in 2016 (inflation-adjusted). Additionally, total yield losses attributable to resistance rose over this period, highlighting the persistent challenge of managing pest resistance in major agricultural systems.