Type of Document	Master's Thesis
Author	Bourriaque, Ryan Joseph
Author's Email Address	rbourr1@lsu.edu
URN	etd-07072008-133941
Title	Spatial Economics of the Louisiana Wetland Mitigation Banking Industry
Degree	Master of Science (M.S.)
Department	Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Rex Caffey Committee Chair John Westra Committee Member Michael Wascom Committee Member Steven Henning Committee Member
Keywords	wetland economics wetland mitigation banking
Date of Defense	2008-06-03
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract Bourriaque, Ryan Joseph, B.A. Louisiana State University, 2005 Master of Science, Summer Commencement, 2008 Major: Agricultural Economics Spatial Economics of the Louisiana Wetland Mitigation Banking Industry Thesis directed by Assistant Professor Rex Caffey Pages in thesis, 86. Words in abstract, 265. ABSTRACT Wetland mitigation banking has become prevalent in many states across the US, with the number of banks increasing 780% from 1992 to 2005. Louisiana led the nation in the total number of banks in 2006 with 96. Despite rapid growth associated with this industry, economic data in regards to the market for wetland mitigation bank transactions has been lacking. Mitigation bank transactions were collected (n=165) for the period 1997 through 2006 from the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and the US Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District. Data were evaluated for economic, spatial, temporal, and other descriptive characteristics. Average credit price for the period was $6,382, three to seven times lower than prices of wetland mitigation credits in states adjacent to Louisiana. Evidence of bimodal price trends prompted analysis of market segregation. Wetland credit prices ranged from $4,000-$20,000 for coastal mitigation credits and from $3,000-$10,000 for non-coastal mitigation credits. A modified hedonic regression model was developed using spatial econometric and statistical software. Twenty-three variables were evaluated for their influence as price determinants, with 11 factors chosen in the final model (Adj. R2 = .69). Parallel sub-models were developed for coastal and inland markets with marginal effects estimated for significant and continuous variables. Major drivers of credit price included sales volume, proximity to population centers, time, and rural land values. Competition within a particular market (watershed) had a positive influence on price, an indication that demand is exceeding supply in this infant market. Findings and recommendations from this study could prove beneficial to policy advisors, bank sponsors, as well as prospective investors in the industry.
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