How does economic value (MWTP) compare to the expenditures and jobs generated by economic activity?
In addition to the economic value of water quality improvements, local communities and regions are often interested in another measure of the economic impact of environmental improvements, namely, the impact that that those improvements bring to their local economy. Typically, this “expenditures impact” is measured in total dollars of spending generated locally by the environmental improvement and/or the number of local jobs these expenditures create. This type of information is particularly relevant for those interested in promoting and maintaining the viability of local communities and those interested in generating support from a local community for local investment in a good. Income and employment associated with expanded visitation can be estimated using an input-output model for the region. An input-output model is essentially a general accounting system tracking expenditures and purchases among sectors in the local economy. Using the IMPLAN data and a modeling system, an I-O mod