Jason Bell

An Iterative Choice Approach to Valuing Clean Lakes, Rivers, and Streams

This article introduces an iterative choice procedure for valuing inland water quality. This approach breaks up the valuation into a series of component tasks. The water quality ladder approach is not valid empirically. Consequently, respondents in Colorado and North Carolina assessed the value of making water quality rated ‘‘good’’ by EPA, which has a value of

ASSESSING WHETHER THERE IS A CANCER PREMIUM FOR THE VALUE OF A STATISTICAL LIFE

22.40 per additional percent improvement. Nonuse and probabilistic use are highly valued. The results also indicate how water quality valuations differ for aquatic environment, edible fish, and swimming, as well as for water that is cloudy, smelly, or polluted by toxics. Minorities are particularly likely to rely upon monitorable water quality attributes.

Survey Mode Effects on Valuation of Environmental Goods

This article estimates whether there is a cancer risk premium for the value of a statistical life using stated preference valuations of cancer risks for a large, nationally representative US sample. The present value of an expected cancer case that occurs after a one decade latency period is

Alternative Policies to Increase Recycling of Plastic Water Bottles in the United States

10.85m, consistent with a cancer premium that is 21% greater than the median value of a statistical life estimates for acute fatalities. This cancer premium is smaller than the premium proposed for policy analyses in the UK and the USA. There is also a greater premium for policies that reduce cancer risks to zero and for risk reductions affecting those who perceive themselves to have a greater than average probability of having cancer.

Heterogeneity in Values of Morbidity Risks from Drinking Water

This article evaluates the effect of the choice of survey recruitment mode on the value of water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams. Four different modes are compared: bringing respondents to one central location after phone recruitment, mall intercepts in two states, national phone-mail survey, and an Internet survey with a national, probability-based panel. The modes differ in terms of the representativeness of the samples, non-response rates, sample selection effects, and consistency of responses. The article also shows that the estimated value of water quality can differ substantially depending on the survey mode. The national Internet panel has the most desirable properties with respect to performance on the four important survey dimensions of interest.

Fostering Recycling Participation in Wisconsin Households through Single-Stream Programs

Using an original, nationally representative sample of plastic water bottle users, this article examines the efficacy of various policy mechanisms to increase recycling. We evaluate the impact of bottle deposits and the stringency of a states recycling laws on the provision of recycling opportunities and on recycling rates. Using household-level data and controlling for the type of recycling legal regime as well as the bottle deposit policies in each state, we find that mandated separation of recyclables, the availability of a recycling center in the community, and the provision of curbside pickup at houses or recycling locations at apartments increase recycling rates. Furthermore, we show that recycling opportunities are substitutes for each other. For example, although deposits for plastic water bottles and curbside recycling separately increase recycling rates, their impacts are each less pronounced if both policies are in place. Moreover, the efficacy of these policies exhibits a discontinuous effect on household behavior, with effective laws and deposit policies transforming nonrecyclers into diligent recyclers. An examination of two states before and after their deposit laws were altered to include plastic water bottles shows that changes in recycling laws do generate changes in recycling behavior. (JEL: Q28, K32) Copyright 2012, Oxford University Press.

Growth and Strategies of Large and Leading Firms - Metals, Machinery and Equipment Sector Assessment

This paper reports the stated preference values for reducing the morbidity risks from drinking water estimated using a nationally representative U.S. sample of 3,585 households. Based on the average annual gastrointestinal (GI) illness risk in the U.S. from drinking water of about 5 illnesses per 100 population, eliminating the GI risk has a median annual value per household of

Trends in Household Recycling of Cans, Paper, Plastic, and Glass; U.S. and State Data 2005-2012

219. The considerable heterogeneity in the values arises largely from differences in attitudes towards risk and price sensitivity. Using interval regressions, we find that valuations are greater for those who perceive a high personal risk, consume a large quantity of tap water, or are environmentalists. The paper explores several methodological issues pertaining to the iterative choice format involving a choice between two policies characterized by their cost and GI risk. The analysis adjusts for starting point effects by basing valuations on the tradeoffs that are estimated to prevail at the “equitable tradeoff rate,” which is the starting cost-water quality tradeoff rate that produces a 50–50 split in the initial policy choice between policies with greater tradeoff rates and policies with lower tradeoff rates. The heterogeneity in valuations is also explored by examining quantile regression results and the determinants of the unbounded valuation amounts at the low and high extremes.

The Economic Value of Water Quality

Single-stream recycling enables households to recycle an unsorted mix of cans, plastic, glass, and paper, thereby reducing recycling costs. The expansion of single-stream recycling in Wisconsin provides a natural experiment to assess the extent to which single-stream increases recycling behavior. Using a longitudinal database that matches household recycling participation to county-level recycling policies from Wisconsin, we identify respondent and county characteristics that promote recycling. The results of both fixed-effects regressions and a differences-in-differences analysis demonstrate that single-stream programs increase recycling within households. The shift from dual-stream to single-stream has benefits exceeding costs.

Promoting Recycling: Private Values, Social Norms, and Economic Incentives

The strategies and investments of large firms can impact the growth and industrial development trajectory of economies. In the context of South Africa’s deindustrialisation and the current policy direction towards growing the manufacturing sector, this study assesses the investments and strategies of large firms in the metals, machinery and equipment sector, one of the largest contributors to GDP and exports and a key producer of inputs into downstream economic activities. These investments are assessed to understand the companies’ strategies in terms of investments made (and not made), to inform the development of appropriate policy levers and incentives to enhance industrial development. The study considered 25 listed firms in the metals, machinery and equipment sector from 2011 to 2016, considering the location of those investments, and the rationale for these investments given by the companies. Three main cross-cutting observations arise from the analysis. The first is that there is a significant number of mergers and acquisitions, and consolidation in the sector in the period considered. Based on the available data, there is a relatively even distribution between mergers taking place within South Africa and those involving acquisitions of companies outside of Africa. The second theme is that there are ‘pockets of excellence’ where firms are investing in developing capabilities and technologies that can drive development and industrialisation. This marks an important area for policy consideration, whereby measures to support continued investment and upgrading of capabilities would be of significant value in terms of enabling the companies to sustain operations. Third, firms continue to face challenges in terms of sustaining their operations in the context of low investment, low downstream demand (including a decline in government projects), and a challenging cost environment which can limit further growth.