FEATURED RESEARCH

Allocating Nevada's Natural Resources: Examining Bidder Behavior in Bureau of Land Management Auctions

A multitude of natural resources in Nevada (such as public lands and wild horses) are allocated via auctions whereby the individual who places the highest bid obtains ownership rights and pays a price determined by the associated auction rules. Despite the widespread use of auctions to allocate Nevada's valuable natural resources, surprisingly little is known about the historical performance and design of BLM sales in the state. This project is designed to fill these gaps by gathering historical data on the structure of BLM auctions and the factors that influnece the allocation (and sale price) of the state's natural resources.  Read More...

Thomas Harris, Department of Resource Economics