Hideo Aizaki

Contingent valuation approach in measuring the multifunctionality of agriculture and rural areas in Japan

The purpose of this study was to measure the economic value of the multifunctionality of agriculture and rural areas based on a more realistic assumption than that adopted in previous studies. Willingness to pay (WTP) for implementing a policy that would maintain a level of multifunctionality corresponding to a 20% decrease in the farmland area in Japan was measured by the double-bounded dichotomous choice contingent valuation method (CVM). According to a country-wide survey, the overall median WTP was 4,144 yen per household annually. The multifunctionality of agriculture and rural areas was classified into eight functions. The WTP for each of these functions was calculated taking into account the ratings assigned to the functions by the respondents. The WTP was 649 yen for flood prevention, 505 yen for recharging groundwater, 642 yen for water environment conservation, 445 yen for soil erosion prevention, 579 yen for organic resource utilization, 394 yen for the development of favorable landscapes, 290 yen for recreation and relaxation, and 641 yen for wildlife protection.

Perceptions of small-scale fishermen on the value of marine resources and protected areas: case of Claveria, Northern Philippines.

Establishing marine protected areas (MPAs) helps to restore and sustain marine and fishery resources, but in the Philippines only 20% of total MPAs are achieving their management objectives. We conducted a case study of a small MPA in Northern Philippines to understand socio-economic status and livelihoods of the fishermen stakeholders, and examine their attitudes and perceptions on marine resource values and conservation. Using an ordered probit model, we also investigated factors affecting these perceptions. We found a lower fish income ratio in higher income quartiles, a small share of local non-fishery income, and an apparent lack of other livelihood opportunities within the rural economy. The majority of fishermen had positive perceptions of the non-market value of marine resources, agreed with the need for MPAs, and perceived positive potential income benefit from MPAs. Level of education and fishing income were consistent significant positive determinants of these perceptions. Policy implications suggest: involving likely-to-be-displaced reef fishers in the crafting of management plans; conducting intensive research on appropriate and feasible livelihood options, for example, marine culture technologies; and designing explicit strategies to increase the propensity of coastal households to invest in childrens education as a strategy for long-term sustainability of resource management.

A noncompensatory choice experiment analysis of Japanese consumers' purchase preferences for beef

In this article, we consider the noncompensatory valuation of food safety among Japanese consumers with regard to the purchase of beef. Using a choice experiment with a wide range of choice rules, we examine the valuation of beef by Japanese consumers in terms of the country of origin and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)-test status of beef. The results reveal that a Random Parameters Logit (RPL) model along with the noncompensatory choice rules is more suitable than a compensatory model for measuring the valuation of food safety with regard to beef by consumers who are conscious of food safety. Further, the Willingness to Pay (WTP) for each BSE-tested type of beef reveals that Japanese consumers regard the BSE test as rather important for ensuring the food safety of beef.

Influence of Information About Agrochemicals Provided via Internet-Enabled Mobile Phones on Consumer Valuation of Food

This study examined the effectiveness of Internet-enabled mobile phones in informing consumers about food safety. Identical questions about place of origin and specially grown tomatoes were asked of 142 Japanese consumers via an Internet-enabled mobile phone before and after providing information about the frequency of agrochemical applications to specially and conventionally grown tomatoes in some prefectures. Although participants changed their evaluations in response to the information, some could not understand it because of the notably large amount of content included in the descriptions. Further research is needed to establish the practicality of communicating food safety information to lay consumers via Internet-enabled mobile phones.

In-crisis delivery rate: a novel measure of success in communal water management

Of the plethora of studies that discuss requirements for successful irrigation management, few pay close attention to what actually happens when the supply of water becomes extremely low. Such an oversight in the literature is unfortunate, because this is precisely when management matters. To understand what separates success from failure in irrigation management at times of critical water shortages, the authors conducted emergency fieldwork in February 2010 along four major irrigation channels in a drought-stricken rice-growing area within the Chinese province of Yunnan. Separately, satellite images of the four villages dated February 2009 and February 2010 were jointly analysed to produce a novel indicator for a village’s success in water management. Called the in-crisis delivery rate, this indicator compares water delivery between normal and drought years and directly evaluates performance in water management during crisis periods. The results led to an unexpected discovery that, contrary to common expectations, the only village of the present study that deployed a traditional earthen water channel secured substantially more water throughout the drought period than those with concrete-lined channels. It is hypothesised that the labour intensive, rather than capital intensive, nature of repair work of the earthen channel enabled flexible operations, and hence had the comparative advantage under a skilled management team. This result confirms the importance of daily maintenance work, which tends to occur less often after modernisation of water paths.

Discrete Choice Experiments

Mr Mathew Quaife makes a presentation on economics and choices.He emphasizes that choices must be made amidst scarce resources