Stephen D. Reiling

Environmental attitudes, motivations, and contingent valuation of nonuse values: a case study involving endangered species

Abstract This paper explores relationships among environmental attitudes, nonuse values for endangered species, and underlying motivations for contingent valuation (CV) responses. The approach combines techniques from the attitude–behavior and economic valuation literature. Attitudes are measured with the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale, and economic values are derived from a referendum, CV survey for peregrine falcons and shortnose sturgeons. Respondents with stronger pro-environmental attitudes are found more likely to provide legitimate yes/no responses, while those with weaker attitudes are more likely to protest hypothetical CV scenarios. Analysis reveals environmental attitudes as a significant explanatory variable of yes/no responses, whereby stronger pro-environmental attitudes result in higher probabilities of responding ‘yes’. Pro-environmental attitudes are also shown to result in higher estimates of mean willingness to pay (WTP). Significant relationships are found between environmental attitudes and nonuse motivations. Specifically, pro-environmental attitudes are associated with stronger reliance on ethical motives for species protection. These results are discussed as they relate to testing predictions in the literature about potential bias in CV studies and to supporting National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recommendations for improving CV reliability.

Test-Retest Reliability of Contingent Valuation with Independent Sample Pretest and Posttest Control Groups

Test-retest, the standard method used to investigate reliability of contingent valuation, is limited because when the time period between the two surveys is relatively short the study may exhibit testing recall. Conversely, when the time between the two surveys increases there is an increased chance the true value will change. The test-retest design cannot isolate these effects. Independent pretest and posttest control groups allow testing of reliability even when recall occurs or the true value changes. Using this design, we found ex post estimates of Hicksian surplus are reliable regardless of whether respondents have direct experience with an activity.

The role of fairness in users’ assessments of first‐time fees for a public recreation service

User response to first‐time fees for public leisure services is not well understood. Although it is believed that fees decrease recreation participation, there is only mixed support for this assumption within the leisure literature. An emerging literature suggests that perceptions of fairness may play a critical role in determining client response to fees. A mail survey conducted among 1,405 visitors to public recreational day‐use areas across the United States suggests the presence of two client types. The first type has paid fees in the past and seems relatively less troubled by the prospect of doing so again in the future. In all cases, this group is more willing to pay fees and to pay higher fee levels than is its counterpart. The second client type typically has not paid fees for favored public leisure services and its members resent even the implication that they may be asked to do so. They assert that fees are unfair and that they feel victimized through the introduction of fees. User resentment is...

Measuring the discriminatory impact associated with higher recreational fees

Abstract Higher fees for publicly provided outdoor recreation facilities have the potential of forcing low‐income users to reduce their use of the facilities more than for higher income users. Some low‐income users may be forced to stop using the facilities altogether. However, to our knowledge, no studies have been designed specifically to test for the presence of this type of discriminatory impact among current users. In this article we present an approach for determining whether higher fees create a discriminatory impact on low‐income users. An empirical application of the approach suggests that a discriminatory impact does exist among the users of Maine state park campgrounds.

Species substitution and question sequencing in contingent valuation surveys evaluating the hunting of several types of wildlife.

Abstract One of the first lessons in any economics course is that prices of substitute commodities matter. For example, the magnitude of estimated values for a specific recreation area may be substantially affected by the availability of substitute sites. This basic lesson of economics is often overlooked in the design of contingent‐valuation questions. Assumptions regarding the prices of substitutes become implicit in designing surveys and are rarely made explicit to survey respondents. In this article, hypotheses are formulated about hunter responses to contingent valuation questions under explicit and implicit assumptions regarding prices of substitute hunting opportunities. The hypotheses are tested using data from a statewide survey of Maine hunters. The results indicate that it may not be necessary to specify assumptions that prices of substitutes remain unchanged. In contrast, respondents did not change their statements of value when told that the prices of substitutes had doubled.