Testing the Consistency Between Standard Contingent Valuation,Repeated Contingent Valuation and Choice Experiments

Choice experiments (CEs) are a relatively new approach to valuing environmental resources. Initial tests of the validity of the approach have either compared benefit estimates generated using CEs with those estimated using contingent valuation (CV) or used more sophisticated hypothesis tests of parameter equality. Although useful, existing tests have been restricted to testing consistency based on a single policy scenario (standard CV). We argue that, although these tests are informative, they fail to take full advantage of the richness of CE data. In particular, CE data allow for the calculation of benefit estimates over a range of policy scenarios (i.e. attribute combinations). A similar range of benefit estimates may be generated by pooling scenarios in a repeated CV study. In this paper, we explore this relationship between CV and CEs by conducting validity tests between a CE model and a repeated CV model over a range of three levels of improved water quality at Clear Lake, IA, USA. Evidence from this test suggests that the CE and CV data are consistent.     

A Cost Approach to Economic Analysis Under State-Contingent Production Uncertainty

This article explores the economics of input decision under production uncertainty. The article develops a methodology to specify and estimate cost-minimizing input decisions under a state-contingent technology. The analysis is applied to time series data on U.S. agriculture. It finds strong empirical evidence that expected output alone does not provide an appropriate representation of production uncertainty. The results provide empirical support for an output-cubical technology. This indicates that an ex post analysis of stochastic technology appears appropriate. The analysis also provides evidence that the cost of facing production risk has declined in U.S. agriculture over the last few decades.     

A Comparison Between the Conventional Stated Preference Technique and an Inferred Valuation Approach

Contrary to conventional stated preference valuation techniques that employ a direct questioning approach, the inferred valuation method utilises indirect questioning where respondents are asked for their belief regarding others’ values for a good or service. In this study, using choice experiments, we compare the results obtained through the two valuation techniques for environmental features of the Burren landscape in western Ireland. Consistent with previous studies, stated values using the conventional approach are found to be significantly higher than those obtained through the inferred valuation approach. In particular, this study highlights the dissimilarities in relative preferences observed between the two landscape attributes (rocky limestone pavements and orchid‐rich grasslands) from the two questioning formats. While respondents were indifferent between the two habitats, they believed the ‘average other’ to be significantly more concerned about the conservation of the rocky limestone pavements. We attribute this divergence in preferences to be a consequence of additional normative motives perceived by respondents with regard to the conservation of orchid‐rich grasslands.     

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.     

Consistency in Mixed Demand Systems: Contingent Valuation and Travel Cost Data

In contrast to previous literature, we propose a consistency test that does not impose any particular common functional form for the preference structure underlying the travel cost (TC) and contingent valuation (CV) models. We derive testable consistency conditions between TC and CV data in the context of mixed demand systems when valuing changes in environmental quality. These conditions are a subset of the rationality conditions. The proposed consistency tests are implemented combining TC and CV data. The empirical results show that it is possible to combine stated TC and CV, but not revealed TC and CV data.     

丘陵地区农地非市场价值磁——以湖北省荆门市为例

农地非市场价值是农地价值的重要组成部分，也是土地价值研究中的薄弱点。选择典型丘陵地区荆门市，采用条件价值评估法（CVM）进行支付意愿的问卷调查，了解了民众对农地非市场价值的认识，并对该价值进行了定量的评估。研究结果表明：荆门地区农地非市场价值总量为86．77亿元，其中耕地为29．01亿元，园地为9．27亿元，林地为23．38亿元，水域为25．11亿元。支付意愿与受访者特征有显著相关关系：市民支付意愿与家庭人口和支付方式显著相关，农民支付意愿与年龄、土地面积、收入和开支显著相关。     

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.     

岷江上游森林生态系统服务条件价值评估

针对岷江上游森林生态系统服务现状,采用条件价值评估法(CVM),以支付卡形式设计了374份调查问卷,调查了岷江流域居民对上游森林生态系统服务的支付意愿(WTP)。结果表明:岷江流域60.80%的居民家庭对岷江上游森林生态系统服务存在支付意愿,平均支付意愿为每户每年44.00元。按照岷江流域现有家庭数量计算,岷江上游森林生态系统服务价值每年是5 507.48×104元。利用二元Logistic模型,对支付意愿与个人社会经济变量进行了较为详尽的分析,并对影响居民支付意愿的主要因素作了环境经济学解释。     

On the Valuation of Uncertainty in Welfare Analysis

This article develops a general model of private and public choice under temporal uncertainty. The model incorporates the effects of risk preferences and the prospect of future learning into both the individual and aggregate valuations of public projects. The analysis provides new insights on individual valuation, its implications for benefit–cost analysis and the characterization of Pareto-efficiency under uncertainty. It also resolves some of the confusion in the option value and quasi-option value literature.     

A Minimax Regret Approach to Decision Making Under Uncertainty

We propose a minimax regret approach to optimal factor demand under uncertainty. Regret is the deviation of any given decision from the optimal decision based on a specified set of possible scenarios for the uncertain variables. This approach does not require the specification of instrumental variables to control for unobserved states of nature, and also does not require specification of the number of possible states in advance. Importantly, ex post production shocks can be estimated using our approach, and full statistical inferences can be obtained. Econometric techniques are based on Bayesian analysis using Markov Chain Monte Carlo techniques. A substantive empirical application is provided to illustrate the new approach.     

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。     

Decomposing the Value of Agricultural Multifunctionality: Combining Contingent Valuation and the Analytical Hierarchy Process

Agricultural multifunctionality is the recognition of the joint exercise of economic, environmental and social functions by this sector. Nevertheless, not all these contributions to society are valued in markets, moreover a large share of them are public goods. For this reason, in order to make this concept of multifunctionality operative for the design of public policies, it is necessary to estimate the social demand of such functions. The objective of this article was to implement an empirical application along these lines. For this purpose, the agricultural system of cereal steppes in Tierra de Campos in Spain is taken as a case study. The economic valuation technique used relies on a combined implementation of contingent valuation and the analytical hierarchy process. The results obtained demonstrate the existence of a significant demand for the different attributes included in the multifunctionality concept, although this demand is heterogeneous and is based on the socioeconomic characteristics of individual persons.     

三峡库区(重庆段)森林水土保持服务功能价值研究

以三峡库区重庆段为研究对象,采用机会成本法、影子工程法、替代工程费用法等研究方法,核算了三峡库区重庆段的森林水土保持服务功能价值。森林生态系统服务功能中的水土保持服务功能研究结果表明:三峡库区重庆段森林水土保持服务功能总价值为14.802亿元/a,其中减少土地损失的价值为203万元/a、减轻泥沙淤积的价值为1196万元/a、土壤肥力保持价值为14.662亿元/a。为正确的核算三峡库区绿色GDP提供一定的借鉴意义。     

试析私有林林农对补贴政策的偏好——基于南方集体林区农户调查问卷的分析

20世纪80年代初林业"三定"后,林农成为南方集体林区最基本的林业经营微观主体,其经营意愿的高低必将影响着林业经济的发展。对私有林进行补贴是激励林农提高其经营意愿,促进私有林健康持续发展的重要手段。补贴要起到激励林农的作用,首先必须设计出适合林农需要的补贴政策。通过问卷调查的方法来分析私有林林农对补贴政策的偏好状况,了解林农对补贴政策的需求,得出多数林农希望以直接发放现金的形式予以补助;最受偏好的补贴时间、补贴依据、现金补贴发放形式分别是造林之前、营林面积、直接在银行开设专用账户的结论。     

CVM 评估休闲农地的存在价值——以武汉市和平农庄为例

研究目的：以武汉市和平农庄为例,对休闲农地的存在价值进行估算。研究方法：在武汉市对和平农庄样本游客进行问卷调查的基础上,采用条件价值法（CVM）进行估算。研究结果：（1）年龄与支付意愿呈显著负相关;（2）被调查者是否为公务员与支付意愿值显著负相关;（3）取支付意愿值的中位值41.5元计算得出和平农庄的存在价值为33684166.67元。研究结论：休闲农地的存在价值量巨大,应在估算农地总价值及农地保护决策中引起重视。     

江西星子县大排岭矿区森林景观的价值评估

2010年运用问卷调查法和条件价值评估法,对江西省星子县大排岭矿区进行森林景观经济价值的评估。调查样本统计结果表明:97.9%的人群对矿区森林景观有支付意愿,平均支付意愿为66.86元/年;支付意愿相关性分析结果表明:收入与支付意愿中度相关(r=0.64,p<0.01),职业、学历与支付意愿低度相关(r=0.352&0.367,p<0.01),年龄、性别与支付意愿不相关。     

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。     

Revisiting the Impact of Order Effects on Sensitivity to Scope: A Contingent Valuation of a Common‐Pool Resource

While many studies have employed stated preferences methods to estimate the value of non‐market ecosystem goods and services, contingent valuation (CV) still generates a significant amount of criticism. Besides ethical concerns, two of the key criticisms relate to insensitivity to scope and order effects. We examine the expectation that the presence of order effects in stepwise disclosure procedures affects the degree of scope sensitivity. We use data from a CV exercise asking farmers in Southern Spain to value two different levels of guarantee of water supply for irrigation in a context of water scarcity. We find that despite order effects being present, they do not affect the existence or the degree of sensitivity to scope. We conclude that, in the light of the mixed evidence found in the literature and the results of our study, it does not seem justified to ascribe order effects and their connection with sensitivity to scope to study design alone (e.g. step‐wise versus advanced disclosure, top‐down versus bottom‐up). The nature of the environmental good under valuation also matters. Our study of irrigation water as a common‐pool resource suggests that, when clear private benefits also exist, these appear to override any ‘good cause dumping effect’ that might arise from the public good component.     

经济发达地区耕地非市场价值及居民支付意愿研究——以南京市为例

研究目的：以南京市为例,研究耕地的非市场价值及城乡居民支付意愿的影响因素。研究方法：条件价值法,计量模型。研究结果：（1）南京市耕地的非市场价值为504087.92万元,单价为20760.59元/hm2;（2）57.76%市民和60.32%的农民家庭愿意为耕地非市场价值付费,支付意愿分别为208.33元/户•a和120.26元/户•a;（3）家庭收支水平、年龄、性别、受教育状况、对耕地非市场价值的认知等是影响城乡居民支付意愿的重要因素。研究结论：受家庭支付能力及其在耕地非市场价值方面受到教育的影响,城乡居民对耕地非市场价值的支付意愿并不高。     

Valuing high altitude spruce-fir forest improvements: importance of forest condition and recreation activity

High altitude spruce fir forests are typical around the world and are often subjected to multiple forms of recreational use. In this paper, we use household and recreation group data for a spruce fir forest high in the Appalachian Mountains of the U. S. to evaluate the benefits from forest protection (i. e., from improving the forest condition). Our benefits estimation procedures use the referendum-type, contingent valuation (CV) approach of Cameron (1988). We modify the usual practice of obtaining a single willingness-to-pay (WTP) value by using alternative questionnaire scenarios and conducting tests to examine i) household and recreation group value sensitivity to forest condition, and ii) recreation group differences in WTP for forest protection. A first sample of southeastern U. S. households was asked to value a forest protection program for a spruce-fir forest showing no impact from insect disturbance or atmospheric deposition. The second sample was asked to value a protection program for a forest already experiencing impact from insect infestation and air pollution. Logit analysis of the two samples revealed no statistically significant difference in household WTP between the two forest protection programs. Further analysis indicated that consumptive forest users (i. e., hunters and anglers) held forest protection values that were sensitive to a change forest condition, while nonconsumptive forest users (i. e., campers and hikers) held values that were insensitive to the same condition change. Recreation group comparisons revealed that consumptive forest users also held lower values for forest protection than nonconsumptive recreationists. These results demonstrate the importance of estimating public values for forest protection in terms of heterogeneous groups rather than as a homogeneous whole.