Economic Development and Land Use Change: A Spatial Econometric Analysis of Agricultural Land Losses in the Northeastern United States

With population growth and expansion of economic activities, and the change in location preference towards suburban and rural locations, urban areas have sprawled. In many places, such expansions resulted in irreversible loss of agricultural lands. This book provides an in-depth analysis of the links between regional growth and land use change in the Northeastern United States. The analysis integrates regional growth theory and spatial econometric modeling to develop recommendations for effective land use policies. A unique aspect of this book is that it identifies the spatial effects of urbanized locations and other local characteristics on agricultural land development that enable policy makers and leaders to design and implement economic development programs that balance land use impacts. The book recommends regional land policy coordination and land impact assessment in state economic development programs. Its rich insights make the book a useful resource and standard reference for economists, development scholars, policy analysts, and consultants. This book can also serve as an important educational resource for schools and libraries.

Dr. Yohannes G. Hailu is an associate director for policy research and visiting assistant professor at the Land Policy Institute, Michigan State University. Dr. Tesfa G. Gebremedhin and Dr. Cheryl Brown, respectively, are Professor and Associate Professor of Resource Management at West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.