Improving Models of Wood Products Plant Locations with Restricted Access Data

32 Pages Posted: 29 Dec 2023

See all articles by Anders T. Van Sandt

Anders T. Van Sandt

University of Wyoming

Craig Carpenter

Texas A&M University; Michigan State University

Raju Pokharel

Michigan State University

Scott Loveridge

Michigan State University

Abstract

The United States is the world’s largest producer and consumer of forest products, but due to industry aggregation and data suppression for privacy reasons, we have limited knowledge of determinants of wood products manufacturing establishments’ locations. We use restricted-access microdata to explore location determinants of several disaggregated employer wood products industry groups and compare results to the aggregated employer and non-employer categories in the wood products subsector. Results suggest important but differing relationships between restricted access variables and establishment counts at the local level. While trucking employment is consistently important, the significance and sign of clustering variables, electricity costs, and production wages vary depending on the specific activity. More specifically, Sawmills and Other Wood Products both exhibit within- and across-industry group externalities of agglomeration. However, not all wood product industry groups interact with one another in the same way. Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood establishments show evidence of only benefiting from locating near downstream manufacturers while Other Mill Work establishments benefit from clustering near other similar establishments. The results should be useful to policy makers as they formulate ways to best position natural resources to contribute sustainable jobs to the local region and prevent future industry bottlenecks.

Keywords: Economic contribution, federal administrative data, forest products, locational choice, locational determinants

Suggested Citation

Van Sandt, Anders T. and Carpenter, Craig and Pokharel, Raju and Loveridge, Scott, Improving Models of Wood Products Plant Locations with Restricted Access Data. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4678817 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4678817

Anders T. Van Sandt (Contact Author)

University of Wyoming ( email )

Box 3434 University Station
Laramie, WY 82070
United States

Craig Carpenter

Texas A&M University ( email )

College Station, TX 77843
United States

Michigan State University ( email )

MI
United States

Raju Pokharel

Michigan State University ( email )

Agriculture Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824-1122
United States

Scott Loveridge

Michigan State University ( email )

Agriculture Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824-1122
United States

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