Congestion effects in valuation of recreation land using revealed preference methods: An application to rock climbing resources at New York's Shawangunk Ridge

This dissertation utilizes an instrumental variables procedure to investigate the effect of congestion in a recreation demand model using strictly revealed preference data. A model is constructed that allows for congestion effects at two levels: anticipated congestion in the decision of site to visit, and perceptions of congestion while on the site. The congestion instrument is endogenous to the estimation in order to allow participants to mitigate the effects of congestion by redistributing over the alternatives.; The model is used to simulate the potential benefit of restoring rock climbing access to Skytop cliff on the Shawangunk Ridge of the Catskill Mountains of NY State. Results suggest that incorporating congestion effects at both levels is important in obtaining proper valuation, and that the method utilized has potential to improve revealed preference studies in which congestion is an important issue.