1D: Public Lands and Urban Quality of Life

People prefer to live in places they like. Some people want to live in warmer climates while others prefer cooler places. Some prefer to live near an ocean or beach while others prefer mountains. And others place a high value on arts and entertainment offered in dense urban regions.

Where people choose to work and live reveals the value of those amenities. Past research shows people will accept a lower wage and pay higher housing costs to live someplace with desirable amenities. Conversely, in areas with few desirable amenities, people will require higher wages and lower housing costs to live there. 

Utah State University researchers examined differences in wages and housing costs across 172 combined statistical areas (urban areas) in the United States. After accounting for worker skills and housing characteristics, a quality of life index was calculated for each urban area. Similar to previous studies, higher quality of life regions were associated with proximity to beaches, warmer climates, and vibrant arts and entertainment sectors.

The researchers also found that nearby public lands are a key factor in urban quality of life. This research significantly expands the literature’s typical focus on national parks and wilderness areas to include more “generic” public lands not subject to special protections. These are important because many popular public land activities, such as motorized recreation and mountain biking, are prohibited or highly restricted in protected areas.

This study identifies a recruitment advantage for Utah industries because many potential workers are willing to accept lower wages to live near high-quality recreation opportunities offered by nearby public lands. This advantage, however, may be offset by higher housing costs.