Modeling Starting Point Bias as Unobserved Heterogeneity in Contingent Valuation Surveys: An Application to Air Pollution

Up to now, the starting point bias has generally been considered to be a homogeneous phenomenon. In this article, we treat anchoring as an unobserved heterogeneous phenomenon. Our contribution is twofold. First, we show analytically and by way of simulations that assuming homogeneous anchoring can be hazardous and lead to misspecifications. Second, we propose an econometric model that starts with a dichotomous question and then uses an open-ended question. We finally apply our model to a contingent valuation survey on air quality. Our results suggest that how anchoring is modeled in empirical studies deserves more attention.     

The Use of Conditional Cost Functions to Generate Estimable Mixed Demand Systems

Mixed demand systems have been virtually ignored in empirical work solely because derivation of these systems requires closed forms for both direct and indirect utility functions. This article proposes the alternative of using a conditional cost function to generate empirical mixed demand models. This approach allows the estimation of mixed demand systems, which are explicit in an unobservable variable (utility), but may lack a closed form representation in terms of observable variables such as prices, quantities and expenditure. Results indicate that this approach is operationally feasible, which opens up a wider range of mixed demand specifications in static analyses.     

Valuation on the Frontier: Calibrating Actual and Hypothetical Statements of Value

The lack of robust evidence showing that hypothetical behavior directly maps into real actions remains a major concern for proponents of stated preference nonmarket valuation techniques. This article explores a new statistical approach to link actual and hypothetical statements. Using willingness-to-pay field data on individual bids from sealed-bid auctions for a $350 baseball card, our results are quite promising. Estimating a stochastic frontier regression model that makes use of data that any contingent valuation survey would obtain, we derive a bid function that is not statistically different from the bid function obtained from subjects in an actual auction. If other data can be calibrated similarly, this method holds significant promise since an appropriate calibration scheme, ex ante or ex post , can be invaluable to the policy maker that desires more accurate estimates of use and nonuse values for nonmarket goods and services.     

Preference Uncertainty in Non-Market Valuation: A Fuzzy Approach

In this article, we consider uncertain preferences for non-market goods, but we move away from a probabilistic representation of uncertainty and propose the use of fuzzy contingent valuation. We assume that a decision maker never fully knows her own utility function and we treat utility as a fuzzy number. The methodology is illustrated using data on forest valuation in Sweden. Fuzzy contingent valuation provides estimates of resource value in the form of a fuzzy number and includes estimates obtained using a standard probabilistic approach.     

淡水养殖系统环境损害成本的条件价值评估——以淀山湖水源保护区为例

水产养殖生态系统为人类提供了巨大的生态服务价值,但也造成一定程度的环境污染。本文利用CVM方法调查了淀山湖区域居民对水产养殖系统环境损害成本的支付意愿。分析结果表明,只有23.5%的居民对解决水产养殖造成的淀山湖生态环境损害存在支付意愿。利用单边界两分式问卷调查发现,对于水产养殖生态系统的环境污染治理的平均支付意愿为15.92元/人·年。据此计算,淀山湖周边三镇水产养殖系统的环境损害成本为每年276.7万元。居民治理水产养殖环境污染的支付意愿受收入、性别等社会经济因素的影响。     

意愿调查法在征地区片综合地价评估中的应用——以兰州市安宁区城市规划区征地区片综合地价评估为例

研究目的:确定能否将意愿调查法应用于城市规划区征地区片综合地价评估。研究方法:实例验证法、对比分析法和因果分析法。研究结果:(1)意愿调查法能够兼顾农民、用地单位和政府三方对征地补偿标准的受偿意愿、支付意愿和决策意愿,测算结果更具可执行性。(2)意愿调查法测算出的征地区片综合地价略高于现行的征地补偿标准,符合“适当提高现行征地补偿标准和有利于提高农民现有生活水平[1]”的原则。研究结论:意愿调查法是进行城市规划区征地区片综合地价评估的较好方法。     

Genetically Modified Crops, Corporate Pricing Strategies, and Farmers' Adoption: The Case of Bt Cotton in Argentina

This article analyzes adoption and impacts of Bt cotton in Argentina against the background of monopoly pricing. Based on survey data, it is shown that the technology significantly reduces insecticide applications and increases yields; however, these advantages are curbed by the high price charged for genetically modified seeds. Using the contingent valuation method, it is shown that farmers' average willingness to pay is less than half the actual technology price. A lower price would not only increase benefits for growers, but could also multiply company profits, thus, resulting in a Pareto improvement. Implications of the sub-optimal pricing strategy are discussed.     

Costs and benefits of forest conservation: regional and local comparisons in Eastern Finland

In addition to environmental interests vs. timber production, debates on forest conservation have typically dealt with nationwide vs. local and regional interests. While most previous studies have focused on the nationwide perspective, this paper considers the benefits and costs of existing conservation areas from the regional and local point of view. The non-market benefits of conservation are measured by means of contingent valuation. Unlike most discrete-choice CV studies, we allow for zero willingness to pay. The results of our cost-benefit analysis suggest that the aggregate benefits of conservation clearly exceed the total opportunity costs when viewed from a regional (or nationwide) perspective, but at the local level costs exceed the benefits of conservation. Differences were also found in locally vs. regionally relevant benefits and costs.     

Ambivalent statements in contingent valuation studies: inclusive response formats and giving respondents time to think

A recent concern in the valuation literature is the uncertainty respondents feel when posed with willingness-to-pay questions for environmental amenities in hypothetical market scenarios. Using a multiple-bounded discrete-choice format, the results indicate that respondents become less ambivalent when allowed considerable time to think about the valuation task before a response is elicited. In particular they tend to reduce the reported willingness to pay associated with low certainty of paying, hence resulting in more conservative welfare estimates. Implications for the application of environmental valuation techniques are discussed.     

从一起美国森林资产评估官司看我国森林资产评估技术规范

通过对一起发生在美国阿拉巴马州涉及森林资源资产评估官司的案例分析,结合我国森林资源资产评估技术规范和实践,对我国有关森林资源资产评估的若干技术经济和操作问题进行了分析和讨论,提出了对我国森林资源资产评估技术规范的改进建议。     

Market and Cost Structure in the U.S. Beef Packing Industry: A Plant-Level Analysis

A resurgence of consolidation in the U.S. meat packing industry in the past few decades has stimulated academic and policy debate. Issues raised include the role of cost economies in driving these patterns, and the effects on the agricultural sector (cattle producers) from market power. Here, plant level cost and revenue data for U.S. beef packing plants are used to estimate a cost-based model incorporating cattle- and output-market pricing behavior. The robust results indicate little market power exploitation in either the cattle input or beef output markets, and that any apparent evidence is counteracted by cost efficiencies such as utilization and scope economies.     

Entry, Exit, and Farm Size: Assessing an Experiment in Dairy Price Policy

This article models and estimates the forces behind farm exits and changes in herd-size among Connecticut dairy farms under the New England Dairy Compact. A model of sunk costs and farm capital investment is used to specify two econometric estimations: a random effects probit model of farm entry and exit and an autocorrelated generalized least squares panel data model of farm size. The Dairy Compact's price strategy reduced farm exits and moderately increased cow numbers. In contrast, development pressures and historically low unemployment rates increased farm exits.     

Quasi- and Simulated-Likelihood Approaches to Censored Demand Systems: Food Consumption by Food Stamp Recipients in the United States

A quasi-maximum-likelihood estimator is proposed and applied to a censored Translog demand system for foods, using a sample of food stamp recipients in the United States. The procedure produces remarkably close parameter and elasticity estimates to those of the simulated-maximum-likelihood procedure. A two-step procedure is also considered but it produces different elasticities. Demands are found to be price elastic for pork and fish but price inelastic for all other food products. Gross complementarity and net substitutability are obvious but these cross-price effects are much less pronounced than own-price and total food expenditure effects.     

Big Data and Dietary Trend: The Case of Avocado Imports in China

ABSTRACT

The advancement of data science and technology presents a unique opportunity to understand rapidly evolving dietary trend around the world. In this case study, we show that the Baidu index, a measurement of the intensity of user searches for specific words, helps explain and forecast the growth of avocado imports in China. Specifically, we find that China’s avocado imports rise by 8% in response to a 10% increase in the Baidu index. Furthermore, the inclusion of the Baidu index in a standard demand model reduces the prediction error by 2.7%.     

Measuring Farm and Market Level Economic Impacts of Improved Maize Production Technologies in Ethiopia: Evidence from Panel Data

While it is often recognised that agricultural technology adoption decisions are intertwined and best characterised by multivariate models, typical approaches to examining adoption and impacts of agricultural technology have focused on single technology adoption choice and ignored interdependence among technologies. We examine farm‐ and market‐level impacts of multiple technology adoption choices using comprehensive household survey data collected in 2010/11 and 2012/13 in Ethiopia. Economic surplus analysis combined with panel data switching endogenous regression models are used to compute the supply shift parameter (K‐shift parameter), while at the same time controlling for the endogeneity inherent in agricultural technology adoption among farmers. We find that our improved technology set choices have significant impacts on farm‐level maize yield and maize production costs, where the greatest effect appears to be generated when various technologies are combined. The change in maize yield and production costs results in an average 26.4% cost reduction per kilogram of maize output (the K‐shift parameter). This increases the producer and consumer surpluses by US$ 140 and US$ 105 million per annum, respectively. These changes in economic surplus help to reduce the number of poor people by an estimated 788 thousand per year. We conclude that deliberate extension efforts and other policies that encourage integration of technologies are important for maize technologies to yield their full potential at both farm and market levels.     

多元规一法在页岩油气勘查评价中的应用——以辽河西部凹陷沙三中亚段为例

利用辽河西部凹陷沙河街组三段中亚段分析实验测试数据和层次分析法,通过对多元页岩油气地质数据进行无量纲化和规则化处理,发现可以将其整合为具有"综合有利因子"意义的无量纲特征值,从而实现对研究区页岩油气勘探有利程度的定量化评价,同时发现对于西部凹陷沙河街组三段中亚段而言,存在中部和南部两个相对有利程度更高有利于页岩油气勘探评价井实施的区域。该方法具有较强的工具意义,可以简明清晰地凸显页岩油气多元地质信息,为页岩油气地质数据分析提供了一种有效的方法和技术思路。     

土地市场发育、城市土地集约利用与碳排放的关系--基于中国省际面板数据的实证分析

研究目的：分析土地市场发育、城市土地集约利用对碳排放的影响。研究方法：面板数据计量模型。研究结果：（1）总体上全国土地市场化发展、城市土地集约利用水平提高都对碳排放效应有着显著的反向减缓作用;（2）1998-2011年期间,中国城市土地集约利用水平提高1个百分点,碳排放量就会减少1.906个单位;土地市场化程度每提高1个百分点,碳排放量就会减少1.528个单位。研究结论：可以通过提高土地市场化程度和城市土地集约利用水平来减缓碳排放。