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on Tourism Economics |
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Issue of 2005‒11‒09
twenty papers chosen by Roberto Zanola Universita degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale |
| By: | Francesco Capone |
| Abstract: | Since the past century, Marshall had described some industrial districts, in England, as agglomerations of small and medium enterprises specialized in a specific production activity. Starting from his contribute, in the last decades an immense literature has been written on industrial districts in Europe and around the World. Italian scholars gave particular attention to this local system of production and extended and developed the concept coined by Marshall. In other countries, different territorial models played a central role as milieu or cluster, for instance. In particular, in the last years these models have been extended to non-industrial fields like culture, rural activities and tourism. In the first part of the paper, a review of the main contributions on the territorial models applied to the tourist industry is proposed like the tourist milieu (Peyrache,-Gadeau, 2003, Bramanti, 2001), tourist cluster (Gordon, Goodall, 2000; Nedlac, 1999; Van Den Berg, Braum, Van Winden, 2001) or tourist district (Becattini et ali., 2001; Aci-Censis, 2001; Antonioli Corigliano, 1999). Thus, we define a model of tourist district and we address how extend to the tourist industry the competitive advantages created from networks of traditional marshallian industrial districts (Marshall, 1966; Becattini, 2000). In the second part of the paper, we perform a methodological exercise of spatial identification through GIS tools. The methodology of identification of industrial districts elaborated from Sforzi (1990) is extended to tourist industry and the adaptability of our model in the Italian territory is verified. The analysis starts from the travel-to-work areas (TTWAs) (Smart, 1974; Combees et al., 1982), which interprets the daily commuting flows due to work reasons defined in Italy by the ISTAT on the 1996 Intermediate Census on Industries and Services. A map of the Italian TLS is presented. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p627&r=tur |
| By: | Bianca Biagi; Alessandra Faggian |
| Abstract: | This paper focuses on the effect of tourism on quality of life (QOL). Two opposite streams of thoughts exist in the related literature. On one side, tourism is seen to be a factor of development, increasing economic opportunities and therefore affecting the QOL of local residents in a positive way. On the other side, tourism is considered a factor of pressure on local areas, because it exploits natural, social and infrastructural resources therefore negatively influencing the QOL.We collected data on all the municipalities in Sardinia (the most famous Italian island as seaside resort) to try and test whether the QOL in touristic locations is positively affected by the presence of tourists. In order to measure the contribution of tourism to QOL, we applied the hedonic price method (HPM). With this methodology, the willingness to pay for QOL, i.e. its “implicit price”, is measured by the differences in property market prices. In particular, our results show that there is a clear distinction between QOL in coastal touristic locations and inland non-touristic places. This confirms our initial idea, that, under certain conditions, tourism can be seen as a positive factor rather than a negative externality. It, indeed, fosters local communities to develop appropriate amenities and facilities. In the final part of the paper, we used the results obtained in the empirical section to propose a classification of all Sardinian municipalities based on the implicit price of QOL. Key words: QOL, HPM. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p44&r=tur |
| By: | Victor Figueira; Francisco Guerreiro |
| Abstract: | It is the aim of the present paper firstly to provide a theoretical frame which enables us to characterize the development of tourism, highlighting the application of the concept of sustained development, and the role played by tourism in the development of rural areas. Aimed as an example and focussing this analysis on the cultural patrimony as a tourist resource, the paper also intends to present the intervention carried out in Cabeço de Vide’s railway station, both as far as the buildings and the green areas are concerned, so as to transform it into a tourist resort, seeking to achieve an adjusted, adequate and agreed integration of the tourist activity. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p272&r=tur |
| By: | José Cadima Ribeiro; Laurentina Cruz Vareiro; Carmen Padin Fabeiro; Xulio Pardellas de Blas |
| Abstract: | This paper unveils the results stemming from two parallel researches, whose scope of analysis was tourism in rural areas (TRA) structures, as established in both northeast regions of the Iberia Peninsula which shape the Euro-region Galicia-North of Portugal. Firstly, a descriptive analysis of the regulations and the TRA supply for both territories is presented, and an evaluation of the strategies which have been followed by the private entrepreneurs and the public administration of each of them, as far as the utilisation of resources is concerned, is done. The symmetries and asymmetries of the touristic structures of those regions are also underlined. In the second part of this study, the above mentioned strategies will be discussed at length seeking to pinpoint how they configure and shape very similar touristic models based upon the use of natural and historical resources, which somehow display common features. Finally, it is sought to materialise a brief conclusion. Key Words: Tourism in Rural Areas (TRA), touristic strategies, TRA models |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p405&r=tur |
| By: | Antónia Correia; Nuno Videira; Victor Martins; Inês Alves; Catarina Ramires; Rui Subtil |
| Abstract: | Golf is becoming a major industry worldwide. The majority of the Portuguese golf courses are located in the Algarve region. Golf tourism has a great economic impact on the Algarve and is regarded by local tourism developers as a vehicle for tackling the seasonal patterns of “mass tourism”. In consideration of the concerns of those involved in regional tourism and golf, the University of Algarve has developed a prospective study on the sustainability paths of this activity, starting from an integrated analysis of the reference conditions of golf in the Algarve, with respect to environmental, economic and social dimensions. This paper presents the sustainability assessment framework developed in this study and the results from its application to the Algarve’s golf courses through the definition and evaluation of three alternative development scenarios and their associated impacts. The application of economic, social and environmental indicators was a key tool for the construction of the “baseline”, “moderate” and “intensive scenarios”. It was concluded that the development of further golf activity in the Algarve should be framed within high service and environmental quality standards. The sustainability area for golf course development should vary between 29 and 41 gold courses (equivalent of 18 holes). |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p620&r=tur |
| By: | Xulio Pardellas de Blas; Carmen Padin Fabeiro |
| Abstract: | The new configuration of the Euro-region Galicia-Northern Portugal is in need of a debate on the problems regarding its development. Important questions arise, such as the organization and planning of common tourism destinations. In this paper important and valuable scientific literature on this topic and data from a study carried out by the authors for the Eixo Atlántico in 2001 are used to implement some instruments for their application to the Euro-region. The model presented here is a systemic elaboration of the design of the Euro-region as a common tourism destination in which a formal structure of its elements is provided, which will prove useful to managers and planners in their analysis of situations and in decision-making processes. Key words: common destinations, cross-border regions, planning. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p128&r=tur |
| By: | M.Carmen Guisan; Eva Aguayo; A. David Carballas |
| Abstract: | The role of human capital, industry and tourism in regional development is analysed by means of econometric models with data of both EU15 and the ten countries of the 2004´s Enlargement. The study points to the need to improve economic policies at EU level, in order to increase production in the less developed regions and to get a higher degree of socio-economic convergence among EU regions. We analyse the main measures that have shown a positive impact on regional development during the last years. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p468&r=tur |
| By: | Lívia Madureira |
| Abstract: | Traditional farming systems are declining rapidly in Portugal. These labour intensive and low productivity systems are incompatible with depopulation and ageing of rural areas. This lack of socio-economic sustainability endangers nature and landscape conservation. Agri-environmental measures, applied in European Union since 1994, can be seen as potential answer to that problem in the Portuguese case. But to be effective, these measures need to be part of an integrated strategy directed to mitigate depopulation. The NGOs and the official organisations related to nature and landscape conservation are aware of that and acknowledge it in the National Strategy for Nature and Biodiversity Conservation. This decline in the farming external benefits supply happens simultaneously with the increasing of its demand. General public, of all ages and socio-economic strata, wants rural nature and landscape conservation for use and nonuse purposes. Contingent Valuation studies conducted in the North of Portugal (Santos, 1997; Madureira, 2001) show a positive willingness to pay of visitors and general public to assure traditional agrarian landscape conservation. To preserve the rural cultural heritage is the main reason presented by the public to stand for landscape maintenance. Official data on land use and demographic trends, data on touristic demand for rural areas and empirical evidence on public preferences for rural nature and landscape attributes are used to witness these different directions in supply and demand for farming external benefits. A closer look to this divergence is taken for the case of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro. This Region contains various typical landscapes where farmer’s action shaped nature in a singular way. This feature attracts many tourists and visitants, which number is expected to grow, specially for Douro vineyards classified as Humanity Patrimony. But all of these landscapes are, to a more or less extent, risking being abandon or restructured to allow mechanisation. Afforestation it is also becoming an alternative pattern in soil occupation at the Region. Thus, this Region exemplifies very well the social and political choices that come up in the context presented in this communication: (1) Which landscapes to preserve? How much of it? And (2) How to do it? Use Beneficiary Pays Principle or Provider Gets based mechanisms? The first questions are mainly social issues, making evident the importance of getting information on public preferences for related political decisions. The second group asks for political choices, where the main challenge is to define and implement solutions capable of tuning in societal choices with local population and economic agents aspirations and resources. Without these solutions traditional landscape will disappear. Some face that as inevitability. But should it be so? The general public seems to disagree with that. And increasing touristic demand indicates opportunities for local development through farming external benefits valorisation. Bringing evidence and discussion on these questions is the main purpose of this communication. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p558&r=tur |
| By: | Pedro N. Ramos; Pedro G. Carvalho; Ana Lúcia Sargento |
| Abstract: | This paper estimates the trade balance for a small region located in inland Portugal – Beira Estrela – geographically defined as the merge of 3 official NUT III regions – Beira Interior Norte, Serra da Estrela and Cova da Beira. This estimate disaggregates by 31 commodities and includes four essential parts: first, the international trade of goods and services; second, the interregional trade of the same commodities; third, the net balance between in-region consumption by foreigner non-residents and the international consumption by residents and finally the equivalent net balance for Portuguese tourists visiting Beira-Estrela and the consumption of out Beira-Estrela Portuguese residents. Interregional trade (not available in official statistics) is the residual between supply and demand of the different groups of commodities corresponding to the columns and rows of a regional Make and Use table we derive for Beira-Estrela. This regional matrix is the outcome of the application of a simplified non-survey method to the Portuguese (National Accounts provided) Make and Use table decomposition. Moreover we set a survey on lodging and restaurant users that allowed the detachment of the interregional tourist consumption flows from the remaining interregional trade. The aim of this estimate is to assess the relative importance of tourism in the Beira-Estrela regional trade balance. Furthermore, we argue in the paper that, unlike countries, regions do not benefit from trade surpluses and these surpluses are just the counterpart of the income drainage or capital outflows, which weaken the economic region basis. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p303&r=tur |
| By: | Agita Slara |
| Abstract: | Accord Aydalot (1986), the firm in no heaven-sent agent free to “choose” an environment, it is secrete by its environment. The firm is not an isolated innovative agent but is part of the milieu, which makes it act. The competitive and innovative performance of the territory, territories more or less competitive and innovative, requires persistence and participation of the different actors: companies, institutions of support and assistance to the company’s activity, public institutions. We do not have the ambition to cover the whole different actors, but illustrate the approach that reflect the better performance innovative of the companies is associate to different factors of the environment milieu and evaluate the determinant conditions of participation in innovation activities. Our purpose is to analyse the behaviour of the companies of 3 NUTS III of Beira Interior of Portugal, relatively to the innovative initiatives. We use a survey applied to vast set of companies. The methodology is based on the application of the multivariate statistics: k-means analysis clusters that allowed distinguish 3 standard behaviours from the companies. To classify the standard behaviour of the companies and identify the characteristics of each cluster, we applied the crosstabs and compare means. We consider the fowling attributes to the different clusters: process of innovation, the mechanisms of knowledge, the networks and the system of governance. These attributes will help to trace the profile of the innovative behaviours and to perceive which the factors or variables of the environment those are links with the best performance on innovation. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p504&r=tur |
| By: | Corrado Zoppi |
| Abstract: | Research in the field of urban economics has defined methodologies to assess the degree of consensus of the local communities for policies that derive from land planning decisions. The contingent valuation methods, which are based on people’s expressed thoughts and convic-tions, allow us on the one hand to evaluate their degree of consensus, and, on the other, to in-crease the level of public information and concern towards land planning policies. Undoubt-edly, participation, concern, information and consensus must be deeply tied to each other in order to develop open processes, based on land planning policies, that generate consistency between the planning policies goals and the spatial organization of the city that the local communities would like to realize. In this essay, a case study of contingent valuation is discussed, based on the dichotomous-choice-with-follow-up technique, to rank three planning scenarios concerning the reorganiza-tion of public services and infrastructure for outdoor recreation in the coastal zone of the town of Arbus. Through this technique, the three proposals are ranked with reference to the local community preferences and attitudes concerning a set of decision criteria. The weights of the decision criteria are defined considering the results of the contingent valuation application, and utilized in a multicriteria analysis, developed through the AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process), in order to obtain two rankings of the proposed scenarios: the first ranking is based on the results of the contingent valuation application; the second ranking comes from the weights of the decision criteria derived from the local community preferences. These two alternative rankings give the local planning context (the city administration, entre-preneurs of the profit and non-profit sectors, citizens, civic associations and committees, etc.) a comprehensive frame of the game rules of the decision-making processes, and a sound basis for discussing, recognizing and understanding their mutual convergences and conflicts. This would allow them to define an effective synthesis of their perceived needs, hopes and expecta-tions for the future spatial organization of their city, in view of the implementation of the planning policies. This essay has a marked methodological feature since a general framework- even if perfecti-ble- which should bring near technical and common knowledge is defined in the practice of city planning. This is implemented through discussion and conflict mitigation concerning the relative importance (and weights) of the decision criteria. This should lead to a more-or-less extensive convergence on policy implementation within the city planning processes. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p147&r=tur |
| By: | Malcolm Greig; Ronald W McQuaid |
| Abstract: | This paper develops a model of the determinants of visitor expenditure at a one day repeated major sporting event in Edinburgh, Scotland. An econometric model is developed that combines both macroeconomic data and socio-economic information derived from over 1,000 visitor interviews. This allows us to control for individual characteristics and estimate the derived elasticities for the macroeconomic determinants of expenditure. The findings suggest that socio-economic characteristics of individuals may be more significant than macroeconomic indicators in explaining variations in visitor expenditure. Among individual characteristics, the region of origin, length of stay, type of accommodation, type of expenditure and personal income are associated with the level of per capita visitor expenditure. This should assist regional policy formulation in attracting higher spending visitors and thereby maximising the income and employment benefits from sporting events and other areas of tourism. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p618&r=tur |
| By: | Francesco Scarlatti; Giovanni Rabino |
| Abstract: | It is very discussed about the sustainability of urban areas. One of the requests of urban sustainability consists in the capability of the city to preserve around itself a good level of naturalness: A sustainable economy reflects an image of its territory that must represent a landscape of agreeable towns, of intact agricultural mosaics and of a large natural areas patrimony. Ours research, starting from the proposal expressed from E. Koomen, J Groen, J Borsboom and H Scholten with the work “Modelling the fragmentation of open space. A framework for assessing the impact of land use change on open space” presented at the ERSA Congress in 2002, intends to find the modality with which the naturalness influences the surrounding areas, the zones where nature and population pressure are not in antithesis and the natural areas that risks to be lost. The goal will be reached applying the concept of “field”. The base idea is that the areas with larger “naturalness” constitute a sort of positive virus that influences the surrounding zones. The GIS-oriented model presupposes the discrete division of the territory and the use of a simple field algorithm applied to an naturalness indicator opportunely studied. The application, for the validation of the model, has been implemented on the Bergamo’s province; choosing a territorial scale that allows to do observations and preliminary evaluations at the level of urban planning to locate large infrastructures. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p111&r=tur |
| By: | Patrizia Riganti; Annamaria Nese; Ugo Colombino |
| Abstract: | This paper discusses ways of improving the management of cultural heritage sites and cities, focusing on new forms of involvement and public participation based on public preferences’ elicitation. The problem of city governance and of the appropriate level of democratic participation needs an integrated approach, capable of bridging the practice of urban design, conservation of the built environment and decision-making support system. This paper reports results from a survey using conjoint choice approach questions to elicit people’s preferences for cultural heritage management strategies for an outstanding world heritage site: the Temples of Paestum, in Italy. The potential of the above-mentioned methodologies’ within the current cultural heritage research scenario is also discussed. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p437&r=tur |
| By: | Caterina Cirelli; Leonardo Mercatanti; Carmelo Maria Porto; Elena Di Blasi; Enrico Nicosia |
| Abstract: | In the present-day post-industrial society and in a globalised economy there is a strong tendency towards standardization and homologation. If we consider one of the most traditional urban functions - the commercial one - analysing what is happening in the centre of the cities of all the developed countries of the world, we notice a process of standardization regarding the offer, both in the sense of the single articles sold and in the sense of the commercial area in all its complexity (uniformity of the showcases for the exposure, diminution of the historical shops with sale of distinctive articles, diffusion of the branches of national and international chains and the phenomenon of franchising). Therefore, the central areas of our cities tend to be more and more alike. Obviously this is fruit of a more complex process, that is concretized in the tendency towards the diversification of the distributive network through the rapid diffusion of hypermarkets and commercial centres in the outskirts of cities and in the changed behaviour of the consumers, more and more directed to American styles of consumption. What kind of role will the more traditional commercial structures that characterize the Italian historical centres have in the future? Despite the fact that these last ones are, at the moment, under considerable pressure that pushes towards a more radical change, there is the possibility however that the particular "commercial landscape" that characterizes them could itself become a new model of development capable of promoting the urban culture, close to the functionalistic model, currently in expansion, totally directed towards the peripheral spaces. Catania is a city where we find, to a great extent, the evolutionary characteristics of the southern urban system, but in which we find even more the changes and the tendencies present in the cities of the more developed regions when processes of decentralization of economic activities, residential activities and of the social structures are outlined. The commercial patrimony of Catania, besides the cultural one, represents one of the pivots on which the identity of the city is based. It represents a resource for the development of the town and a stimulation of tourism. This research investigates the solidity and the potentialities of traditional commerce in the central areas of the city of Catania in relation to the dynamics of development of the external commercial centres. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p583&r=tur |
| By: | Giovanni Rabino; Alberto Girotti |
| Abstract: | In the paper of Cavezzali, Girotti and Rabino presented at ERSA 2003 conference, features of multi-agent models and their potentiality for the study of territorial phenomena are discussed. Starting from this study, the present paper digs deeper mechanisms of multi-agent systems working, describing their ontology in a more complete and articulated way as possible, and investigating: the properties of the actors, the mechanisms of interaction among actors and between actors and environment. About the environment, particular attention has been paid to the consideration about the various modalities of treatment of territory (from pure physical support to active reactive/cognitive agent in relationship with the other agents). For these modalities, finally, two typical case-studies of multi-agent model are shown: simulation of pedestrian paths choice, the software “Turisti”, and a competitive dynamic of service centres location, “Wilson”. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p142&r=tur |
| By: | Anabela Dinis |
| Abstract: | Over recent years territorial cohesion has become an important concern for national and supra-national governments. This concern stems from the unexpected growth in spatial imbalance in terms of economic development. Urban and more developed areas are attracting more and more people and economic activities, while a great part of rural and peripheral territories seem condemned to desertification and abandonment. This is clearly the case of Portugal. This paper shows how the application of marketing tools and philosophy can be used to reverse (or at least slow down) this process when applied to the formulation and implementation of territorial development strategies. With this in mind, the issue of territorial development is looked at and marketing concepts are introduced. Considering rural and peripheral territories as the product to be marketed, the main components of its marketing system are discussed and some of the current trends in society that affect supply and demand of the rural product are presented. Under the light of this theoretical framework, some guidelines for action and the main responsible agents are identified in order to improve the competitiveness of rural and peripheral areas Key words: Rural and peripheral territories, Marketing, Competitiveness |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p681&r=tur |
| By: | Luisa Pedrazzini; Giulia Pesaro |
| Abstract: | The paper aims to present the methodological approach used for the development of the Interreg IIIB Alpine Space project “Cultur ALP - Knowledge and Enhancement of Historical Centres and Cultural Landscape”. The project promoted by Lombardy Region, involves seven European regions from four different countries. The goal is to improve the knowledge of alpine historical settlements and to develop innovative operating policies to protect and enhance this distinctive cultural heritage. The paper will focus on the SWOT analysis methodology, here applied to cultural heritage and aiming to describe, understand and valorise the peculiarities and the values of historical settlements and cultural landscapes in the alpine territory. SWOT analysis indicators have been selected in order to internalise the interdisciplinary approach chosen in the project. The intervention strategy that normally characterises the government and management of historic settlements is sectoral and looks at the settlement itself as an ensemble of valuable buildings to be preserved from depletion. Here this point of view is overtaken in favour of a “systemic” analysis, where historical settlements can be viewed as cultural capital, closely integrated to all the other territorial resources. This to achieve a sustainable and durable territorial development, based on the preservation and valorisation of cultural, historical, artistic, social, economic and environmental identities, according to the peculiar spatial and socio-economic context of the Alps arch. This implies the contribution of different disciplinary approaches and tool boxes, that have to be understood and shared by different knowledge systems (approach, strategies, methodologies, tools…). The real challenge of the project is therefore the use of the interdisciplinary approach in developing integrated policies for the preservation and valorisation of historical settlements and cultural landscapes, pushing architects and historians of art as well as planners, economists, sociologists, administrative professionals and other territorial analysts to work together in a mutual learning process. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p123&r=tur |
| By: | Tüzin Baycan-Levent; Peter Nijkamp |
| Abstract: | Urban green spaces play a key role in improving the liveability of our towns and cities. The quality and viability of cities depend largely on the design, management and maintenance of urban green as well as of open and public spaces in order to fulfil their role as an important social constellation and a visual focus. Actually, urban green spaces are seen as an important contribution to a sustainable development of cities. However, the potential of green spaces is not always realized, so that current management practices are sometimes sub-optimal. From a “policy perspective”, the results of several case studies have shown important needs and priorities for the development and management of urban green spaces. It is of strategic importance to compare and evaluate urban green space policies for highlighting the “best practices” for relevant policy recommendations and guidance for society and planning authorities to improve the quality of life in cities. The present study investigates urban green spaces from a policy evaluation perspective and analyses European cities in order to obtain strategic and policy relevant information on the key features of urban green. The study aims to compare and evaluate the current management practices in European cities on the basis of the performance of urban green space policies. The data and information used for comparison and evaluation are based on extensive survey questionnaires filled out by relevant departments or experts of municipalities in European cities that aim to share their experience in innovative green space policies and strategies. A recently developed artificial intelligence method is deployed to assess and identify the most important factors that are responsible for successes and failures of urban green space policies. This approach reveals the most critical policy variables. |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p660&r=tur |
| By: | Johan Lundberg; Sofia Lundberg |
| Abstract: | This paper concerns the attractiveness for member ship in Swedish golf clubs. A representative voter model is derived and the attractiveness for member ship in golf clubs estimated using a unique data set on qualities of the golf course, the quality of neighboring courses and characteristics regarding the region where the golf club is located. Characteristics and composition of population within the municipality where the club is located have a significant impact on the attractiveness of the club. The attractiveness increases as the share of number of junior members decrease. Golf is found to be a substitute to publicly financed goods. Keywords: spatial econometrics, sports, utility maximization JEL classification: D71, L83, R12 |
| Date: | 2004–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wiw:wiwrsa:ersa04p242&r=tur |