Winters Economic Impact

Winters Economic Impact

Written by: Conner Goodman

As thanksgiving passes and the cool weather starts to flow in your average northern living american begins hibernation until the cold weather passes and spring begins. For those who are not so average, winter marks the beginning of outdoor adventures for the few frigid months of the year. Skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing and ice skating just to name a few, are all activities that bring people out of their warm homes and into the cold winter weather. Being the last month of winter I found it appropriate to analyze the economic impact, good and bad of the season many of us have a love hate relationship with.  

Living in Wisconsin it is quite evident that there is a large amount of money being made in the winter, but finding out how much money really is made is quite staggering. Many people do not take into consideration all of the areas that money can be made. Not only is their recreational money to be made, but shovels, coats and hats are a few purchases that can be made the help the economy. Taking a look at the recreational benefit In 2015 Colorado's “Ski Country USA” conducted research that concluded skiing in colorado brings over 4.8 billions dollars of revenue to the state of colorado every winter employing a large amount of the mountainous region.  Making it one of the largest contributors to colorado's taxes and the largest recreational money maker in Colorado.  The state of minnesota states that ice fishing creates a mere 600 million dollars in revenue and 100 million in tax dollars. The revenue that these winter activities creates not only specifically benefit the recreation aspect, but it also benefits the travel industry, hotel industry & food industry. Though there is a lot of benefits there is also a large amount of negative externalities that lead to missed opportunity cost by many people and the government.

The state of New York announced government spending on over 1.1 millions pounds of salt for roads and sidewalks in the state of New York alone. Pennsylvania spent the most of any state in the survey, with expenses of $272 million. The state transportation department estimates it took 2.5 million man hours to respond to winter storms that year. Puting a total of 1.18 billions dollars on transportation related costs in the winter alone. Another problem with the winter is the deadweight loss occurring to businesses that are closed from winter weather or simply do not get the business needed because of winter weather. This is also money not made in the food, transportation and hotel business.

Winters economic impact can vary depending on the person and their work. Some people love it and some people hate it, but there is no doubt that winter has a significant impact on our country's economy.

Sources

'Daniel C. Vock', url: 'http://www.governing.com/authors/Daniel-C-Vock.html'}]. "How Much Did States Spend Battling This Winter?" Governing. N.p., March & april 2015. Web. 06 Mar. 2017.

"Economic Study Reveals Ski Industry's $4.8 Billion Annual Impact to Colorado." Economic Study Reveals Ski Industry's $4.8 Billion Annual Impact to Colorado | Colorado Ski Country USA. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2017.

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