Stated preference methods for environmental valuation

The economic valuation of non-market goods is an important issue in thefield of environmental economics. It helps to overcome market failures, to guide policy decisions on sustainable resource use, and it is an essential input for cost-benefit analyses. Yet, surprisingly few scientists have actually applied empirical valuation methods in the German language area. The book aims at showing the current state of the art in non-market valuation in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It presents twelve articles which are concerned with various aspects of the application of stated preference methods, i. e., methods that use surveys in order to value non-market goods and services. The papers are assigned to the sections “Contingent Valuation”, “Choice Experiments”, “Comparative Studies” and “Benefit Transfer”. One objective of the book is to provide policy makers in the German language area with an overview of how valuation methods can be applied. Moreover, it elucidates the strengths and weaknesses of stated preference methods. Equally, the book aims at scientists, as it covers a range of methodological challenges and innovative approaches to tackle these. Contents Andrea M. Leiter: Estimating WTP with discrete choice models • Peter Elsasser: The neglect of possible disutility as a bias source in the contingent valuation of public goods • David Bothe: The quest for appropriate scenarios: contingent valuation of Icelandic hydropower • Klaus Glenk: A splitsample experiment to test for effects of attribute order in choice experiments • Kerstin Zander, Karin Holm-Müller: Valuing farm animal genetic resources by using a choice ranking method • Claudia Cerda, Jason Diafas, Jan Barkmann, John Mburu, Rainer Marggraf: WTP or WTA, or both? • Sandra Rajmis, Jan Barkmann: Utilisation of grounded theory methodology for the development of a choice experiment: preliminary studies on the insurance value of biodiversity • Nele Lienhoop: Participant behaviour and performance in contingent valuation • Christina Rüffer, Anke Fischer: Metric or ordinal measures of utility in environmental policy-making? • Ulf Liebe, Jürgen Meyerhoff: A sociological perspective on stated willingness to pay • Ulrike Lehr: Bayesian benefit transfer: principles and applications • Jürgen Meyerhoff, Peter Elsasser: A Bibliography of stated preference studies in Austria, Germany and Switzerland