Rekreationsnyttan

Rekreationsnyttan is a term used in Swedish welfare economics to describe the utility or welfare gained from engagement in recreational activities and from access to recreational environments. It encompasses the subjective satisfaction, enjoyment, and health or relaxation benefits that people obtain from outdoor leisure, sports, sightseeing, and other forms of recreation.

The concept covers a range of benefits tied to natural and urban spaces, including physical activity, stress relief, aesthetic appreciation, social interaction, and the experience of nature. The magnitude of rekreationsnyttan varies with factors such as distance to the recreation site, time available, season, quality of facilities, and existing opportunities. While it is primarily a use value associated with current use, discussions of rekreationsnyttan may also touch on non-use aspects when people value the existence of recreational opportunities for future generations or for informational purposes.

In economic analysis, rekreationsnyttan is typically valued using non-market valuation methods or benefit transfer. Common techniques include the travel-cost method, contingent valuation, and hedonic pricing, with results expressed as consumer surplus or willingness to pay. These estimates feed into cost-benefit analyses of land-use decisions, conservation projects, urban planning, and nature-based tourism, helping to quantify the social benefits of preserving or expanding recreational opportunities.

Limitations of the concept include measurement challenges, individual variability in preferences, and potential overlaps with other ecosystem services. The notion is most developed within Swedish environmental and regional planning literatures and is often used alongside broader notions of environmental and social benefits. See also recreation economics; ecosystem services; non-market valuation.