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How Do Respondents with Uncertain Willingness to Pay Answer Contingent Valuation Questions?

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  • Richard C. Ready
  • Ståle Navrud
  • RW. Richard Dubourg

Abstract

Four elicitation methods are compared in a split-sample, contingent-valuation study valuing avoidance of episodes of ill health linked to air pollution: two discrete methods and two more-continuous methods. Respondents to a traditional payment card (PC) question gave willingness-to-pay values that were lower than those implied by dichotomous-choice (DC) responses. However, followup questions showed that DC respondents were less certain of their stated behavior than were PC respondents. When respondents were told to be ``almost certain’ ’ of their responses, responses to the DC and the PC formats converged.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard C. Ready & Ståle Navrud & RW. Richard Dubourg, 2001. "How Do Respondents with Uncertain Willingness to Pay Answer Contingent Valuation Questions?," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 77(3), pages 315-326.
  • Handle: RePEc:uwp:landec:v:77:y:2001:i:3:p:315-326
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    JEL classification:

    • Q21 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Demand and Supply; Prices

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