PUBLIC LAND POLICY AND THE VALUE OF GRAZING PERMITS

This article provides an empirical test of the traditional theory of permit value and investigates the impact of recent changes in public land policies on the value of grazing permits. Results suggest that the cost advantage for grazing on public lands has been capitalized into substantial permit values, but other economic and hedonic factors influencing land prices also have contributed to the value of grazing permits. Public land grazing permits have fallen in value relative to deeded land as grazing fees have increased and as assurance has waned that public land policies will continue to be favorable to ranchers.