ESTIMATING THE SUPPLY OF CONSERVATION GOODS IN BRITAIN - A COMPARISONOF THE FINANCIAL EFFICIENCY OF 2 POLICY INSTRUMENTS

Rapid uptake of agreements in Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) c ompared with negotiated management agreements on Sites of Special Scie ntific Interest (SSSI), has lead to renewed interest in obtaining publ ic conservation goods through agreements in the U.K. Economic comparis ons between these two instruments are made using a simple supply model . The paper reviews the legal/administrative basis for management agre ements, states relevant theory, and compares these two means of securi ng conservation goods. Conclusions regarding the difference in public expenditure on these mechanisms are established and information on tra nsactions costs presented. The conclusion is that SSSI are more cost-e ffective than ESAs.