Economies of scope in endangered-species protection: Evidence from interest-group behavior

This paper looks for positive spillovers from the legal protection of one s pecies to the welfare of others and for evidence of economies of scope in t he costs associated with protecting species under the Endangered Species Ac t. The analysis uses data on the intensity of interest-group comment activi ty in response to proposals to protect new species. The results suggest tha t these phenomena are significant, strengthening arguments that wildlife-pr otection policy should be shifted toward species groups or ecosystems. Howe ver, the findings are also consistent with diminishing public willingness-t o-pay for protected species in a given area, a pattern which also has publi c-policy implications. (C) 2000 Academic Press.