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Do Respondents Report Willingness-to-Pay on a per Person or per Group Basis? A High Mountain Recreation Example

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  • Catherine M.H. Keske

    (University of Colorado-Boulder, Campus Box 450 UCB, 1560 30th Street, Boulder, CO 80309-0450, USA)

  • Greta Lohman

    (Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523–1170, USA)

  • John B. Loomis

    (Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523–1172, USA)

Abstract

Contingent valuation methodology (CVM) studies often use dichotomous choice willingness-to-pay (WTP) questions to measure the value that visitors place on recreation. This study assesses whether individuals respond to WTP questions on an individual or a group basis and whether reported WTP values are affected by changes in wording to address this issue explicitly. The authors' analysis reveals statistically significant differences in mean WTP when the payment vehicle is worded more generally, compared to specific language questioning respondents about increases in their share of the cost. Further, dividing the WTP from the standard CVM survey language by group size did not restore the equality of individual average WTP. These results indicate that payment vehicle language in recreation studies should go to great lengths to ask explicitly for either individual or group WTP, to ensure that accurate WTP estimates are obtained.

Suggested Citation

  • Catherine M.H. Keske & Greta Lohman & John B. Loomis, 2013. "Do Respondents Report Willingness-to-Pay on a per Person or per Group Basis? A High Mountain Recreation Example," Tourism Economics, , vol. 19(1), pages 133-145, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:toueco:v:19:y:2013:i:1:p:133-145
    DOI: 10.5367/te.2013.0188
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Catherine M. H. Keske & Adam Mayer, 2014. "Visitor Willingness to Pay U.S. Forest Service Recreation Fees in New West Rural Mountain Economies," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 28(1), pages 87-100, February.

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