PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR IN ENDANGERED SPECIES PRESERVATION

This paper analyzes statistically the main determinants of government decisions about the preservation of endangered species. As explanatory variables, we use proxies that include 'scientific' species character istics, such as ''degree of endangerment'' and ''taxonomic uniqueness, '' as well as 'visceral' characteristics, such as ''physical size'' an d the degree to which a species is considered a ''higher form of life. '' These proxies are used to study the government's protection and spe nding decisions on individual species. Overall, we find that the role of visceral characteristics is much greater than the role of scientifi c characteristics.