EFFECTS OF LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE ON LAND PRICES: A SPATIAL ECONOMIC APPROACH

We conduct a study to examine the effects of local development pressure and other factors on the value of urban-fringe land parcels. Multiple regression spatial models were estimated using parcel- level data from Delaware County, Ohio. The empirical results provide evidence that such factors as man-made and natural features are relevant in determining property values. The econometric findings indicate that local development pressure contributes profoundly to an increase in current land prices. These results shed light on the magnitude of the effects of recently developed land and provide insights into policies to preserve farmland and the associated environmental benefits.