Testing convergent validity in choice experiments: Application to public recreation in Spanish stone pine and cork oak forests

We perform two convergent validity tests in a choice experiment applied to public recreation in Spanish stone pine and cork oak forests. Results show convergent validity between a choice and a ranking recoded as a choice format in an experiment with three alternatives plus status quo. We also find significant differences between two payment vehicles (increased trip expenditures and entrance fee) that are included simultaneously in the choice sets. We estimate aggregated recreation values using compensating variation and simulated exchange value (maximum benefits from a potential market) measures. The latter measures account for 35–51% of the former values.     

后配额时代中国应对美国纺织品反倾销的对策

国际贸易进入后配额时代,外国针对中国的纺织品反倾销案件将日益增多,在采取多方面的策略积极应对反倾销的同时,更要大力发展我国的市场经济,推进市场化、法制化进程。     

Do we ecologically model what we economically value?

For the period 1991-2005 inclusive we categorise peer-reviewed journal output depending on whether it pertains to case-studies in a) cropland or b) aggregate semi-natural and natural terrestrial (ASNNT) ecosystems for three applications in ecological modelling: 1) modelling of terrestrial carbon and nitrogen fluxes; 2) modelling of terrestrial root systems; 3) geographic information systems. Next we compare these research output magnitudes for case-studies in cropland and ASNNT ecosystems with estimates of the total economic value (TEV) of either system.For applications 1) and 3) the magnitude of research output for ASNNT ecosystems between 1991-2005 is greater than for cropland and research into the former is increasing at a faster rate over time compared to the latter. Given that the TEV of ASNNT ecosystems is 82 times greater than the TEV of cropland we deem these trends in research output as desirable under the assumption that value and research should be interdependent. However for application 2), although research into ASNNT ecosystems is increasing at a faster rate compared to cropland, total research output between 1991-2005 is greater for cropland. We conclude that increased research output which focuses on ASNNT ecosystems in this particular application should be a priority, given the high TEV of ASNNT ecosystems relative to cropland.     

Rural versus urban preferences for renewable energy developments

Development of renewable energy resources, such as wind farms and hydro-electric schemes, are being promoted as a new method of expanding and diversifying employment in rural areas. However, such energy projects are associated with a range of environmental impacts which might be detrimental to other economic activities, such as those based on nature tourism. The authors use a Choice Experiment to quantify peoples' preferences over environmental and employment impacts that may result from the deployment of renewable energy projects in rural areas of Scotland, focussing in particular on any differences between the preferences of urban and rural dwellers, and on heterogeneity within these groups. Rural and urban households are shown to have different welfare gains which are dependent on the type of renewable energy technology and on the scale of project under consideration.     

First come, first served: How market and non-market actions influence pioneer market share

This study examines the relationship between the erosion of first-mover advantages and the competitive behavior of pioneer and follower firms in a service industry—in this case, the European mobile telecommunications industry. The research analyzes the role of market actions related to innovation, pricing and promotion, and non-market actions related to judicial issues. The study finds that first movers enjoy a sustainable market share advantage in this service industry, but that this advantage depends on the type of actions taken by pioneers and followers. Specifically, followers that take more market actions than the pioneer are not able to erode the first-mover's advantage. However, followers taking more non-market actions - such as litigation and complaints - are successful at taking market share from the pioneer.     

Meta-Analysis,Benefit Transfer,and Methodological Covariates: Implications for Transfer Error

Meta-regression models in the valuation literature demonstrate that willingness to pay estimates vary according to methodological factors. Neither theory nor characteristics of policy sites dictate the treatment of associated covariates within benefit transfer, however, and the literature provides few insights into potential impacts of common empirical treatments. This paper introduces a method to systematically characterize the impact of methodological variables on transfer error. Using a repeated leave-one-out convergent validity framework, the analysis contrasts errors for a hypothetical ideal case in which correct methodological covariate treatments are known to the realistic case in which the correct treatment is unknown. Results indicate that the common assumption of mean values for methodological covariates leads to only a modest increase in mean transfer error relative to that found in the hypothetical ideal case.     

Time use, work and overlapping activities: evidence from Australia

The overlapping of activities is an important dimension of timeuse that has previously received little attention in economicanalysis. Most time-use studies have looked only at primaryactivities, ignoring the fact that individuals often performtwo or more activities simultaneously. This seriously underestimatesthe time spent on several economic activities such as childcareand housework which are also performed as secondary activities.Using a two-adult household sub-sample from the 1992 NationalAustralian Time Use Survey, this paper examines the incidenceand determinants of overlapping activities among 3,966 adultmale and female household members. It first shows that inclusionof overlapping activities in time-use measurements providesa better estimation of the economic contribution of individuals,especially in non-market production. Tobit models are then estimatedto examine the effects of economic, social and demographic factorson the incidence of overlapped work activity. The findings,which are found to be robust, showed that gender, householdlife cycle and composition, education, cultural norms, employmentstatus and level of income earnings influence the extent towhich individuals, particularly women, perform secondary workactivities. Conclusions are drawn in the final section of thepaper.     

Do emotions matter? Coherent preferences under anchoring and emotional effects

Emotions can affect individuals' preferences and economic behavior. In this paper we consider the relationship between emotions and anchoring effects in non-market valuation. The findings show that although anchoring effects are relevant, elicited preferences are coherent, in the sense that they are sensitive to changes in the dimension of the good. Additionally, it is found that the relationship between emotional intensity and the level of anchoring is U-shaped, with anchoring declining as emotional intensity rises until a minimum is reached. Thus, preferences can be substantially less affected by anchoring effects if emotional intensity deviates from extreme values. Finally, it is found that the degree of sensitivity to scope is influenced by the level of emotional load involve in the valuation task.     

The internalization of externalities in the production of electricity: Willingness to pay for the attributes of a policy for renewable energy

This paper investigates the willingness to pay of a sample of residents of Bath, England, for a hypothetical program that promotes the production of renewable energy. Using choice experiments, we assess the preferences of respondents for a policy for the promotion of renewable energy that: (i) contributes to the internalization of the external costs caused by fossil fuel technologies; (ii) affects the short-term security of energy supply; (iii) has an impact on the employment in the energy sector; and (iv) leads to an increase in the electricity bill. Responses to the choice questions show that our respondents are in favour of a policy for renewable energy and that they attach a high value to a policy that brings private and public benefits in terms of climate change and energy security benefits. Our results therefore suggest that consumers are willing to pay a higher price for electricity in order to internalize the external costs in terms of energy security, climate change and air pollution caused by the production of electricity.     

A valuation of viewing public broadcasting with endogeneity: The life satisfaction approach

The evaluation of the amenities and benefits of public broadcasting is crucially important, given the accelerated convergence of broadcasting and telecommunications and the increasing heterogeneity of media use by individuals. We attempted to quantify and monetize the value of viewing public broadcasting by adopting the experienced utility approach and taking advantage of viewers’ subjective well-being. With the help of microdata provided from surveys conducted by a Japanese public broadcaster, the crucial findings of our analysis are that viewing public broadcasting has a considerable monetary value, as well as an endogenous property. We also found a detrimental association between public broadcast viewing and life satisfaction (a subjective well-being indicator), which diminishes among adolescents and early middle-aged people. This implies that a diversified and complex viewing method is emerging that is a particular characteristic of these age groups, and which may mitigate the negative effect of conventional methods of viewing.