Journal of Forest Economics > Vol 24 > Issue 1

Designing hunting regulation under population uncertainty and self-reporting

Frank Jensen, University of Copenhagen, Department of Food and Resource Economics, Denmark, fje@ifro.ku.dk , Jette Bredahl Jacobsen, University of Copenhagen, Department of Food and Resource Economics, Denmark, Bo Jellesmark Thorsen, University of Copenhagen, Department of Food and Resource Economics, Denmark
 
Suggested Citation
Frank Jensen, Jette Bredahl Jacobsen and Bo Jellesmark Thorsen (2016), "Designing hunting regulation under population uncertainty and self-reporting", Journal of Forest Economics: Vol. 24: No. 1, pp 157-171. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jfe.2016.06.004

Publication Date: 0/8/2016
© 0 2016 Frank Jensen, Jette Bredahl Jacobsen, Bo Jellesmark Thorsen
 
Subjects
 
Keywords
JEL Codes:Q23Q28D62
HuntingRegulatory instrumentsStock uncertaintySelf-reportingBag
 

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In this article:
Introduction 
The model 
Full certainty 
Population uncertainty 
Self-reports affect the measure of population size. 
Conclusion and discussion 

Abstract

A number of methods exist for estimating the size of animal populations. All methods generate an uncertain estimate of population size, and have different properties, which can be taken into account when designing regulation. We consider hunting regulation when the population size is uncertain and when the self-reported bag is used to estimate the population size. The properties of a population tax and a tax on self-reported bag are analyzed and we begin by considering a baseline situation with full certainty and no use of self-reporting for population size estimation. Here individual hunters self-report a bag on zero and a population tax alone can secure an optimum. Next we show that when facing uncertain population size, a risk-averse hunter will self-report part of the bag to reduce the uncertain population tax payment, making both tax instruments necessary for reaching an optimum. Finally, when self-reported bag is used to estimate population size, we also show that it is optimal for hunters to report a part of the bag and both instruments are again necessary for reaching an optimum.

DOI:10.1016/j.jfe.2016.06.004