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Background inequality and differential participation in deliberative valuation: Lessons from small-group discussions on forest conservation in Colombia

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  • Vargas, Andrés
  • Lo, Alex Y.
  • Rohde, Nicholas
  • Howes, Michael

Abstract

Deliberative monetary valuation (DMV) methods have been proposed as a more democratic alternative to traditional contingent valuation methods (CVM) for natural- resource decision making. These deliberative methods are subject to criticisms. One issue of concern is that the socio-economic inequalities among members of the deliberative group may severely impede communication and consequently distort deliberative outcomes. To examine such possibility we applied the deliberative methodology in a case study of forest conservation in Colombia. We found that those individuals who assumed social (environmental) leadership positions tended to dominate group discussion. Nevertheless, the variations in the capacity to engage in group deliberation were better explained by participants' personal characteristics than external constraints or group pressure. Also, there was little evidence that leadership and domination in group deliberation significantly influenced participants' stated WTP. We conclude that DMV is vulnerable to the background inequalities among group members. The democratic potential of deliberative methods should be critically examined in terms of the capacity to communicate effectively and equally.

Suggested Citation

  • Vargas, Andrés & Lo, Alex Y. & Rohde, Nicholas & Howes, Michael, 2016. "Background inequality and differential participation in deliberative valuation: Lessons from small-group discussions on forest conservation in Colombia," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 104-111.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:129:y:2016:i:c:p:104-111
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2016.06.009
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    4. Seckler, Matthias & Volkert, Jürgen, 2021. "The capability approach: A promising foundation for sustainable development?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    5. Junying Lin & Zhonggen Zhang & Lingli Lv, 2019. "The Impact of Program Participation on Rural Household Income: Evidence from China’s Whole Village Poverty Alleviation Program," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-15, March.
    6. Yves Meinard & Olivier Cailloux, 2021. "Deliberation in Valuation and Decision Making: A Conceptual Clarification," Post-Print hal-03487127, HAL.
    7. Bartkowski, Bartosz & Lienhoop, Nele, 2018. "Beyond Rationality, Towards Reasonableness: Enriching the Theoretical Foundation of Deliberative Monetary Valuation," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 97-104.
    8. Wanek, Eva & Bartkowski, Bartosz & Bourgeois-Gironde, Sacha & Schaafsma, Marije, 2023. "Deliberately vague or vaguely deliberative: A review of motivation and design choices in deliberative monetary valuation studies," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).

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