Measuring the discriminatory impact associated with higher recreational fees

Abstract

Higher fees for publicly provided outdoor recreation facilities have the potential of forcing low‐income users to reduce their use of the facilities more than for higher income users. Some low‐income users may be forced to stop using the facilities altogether. However, to our knowledge, no studies have been designed specifically to test for the presence of this type of discriminatory impact among current users. In this article we present an approach for determining whether higher fees create a discriminatory impact on low‐income users. An empirical application of the approach suggests that a discriminatory impact does exist among the users of Maine state park campgrounds.

Keywords:

• Discriminatory impact of fees
• fee equity
• recreation fees
• and users’ income
• outdoor recreation
• recreationists’ responses to higher fees