Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

Contingent valuation and real economic commitments: a private good experiment

Lookup NU author(s): Emeritus Professor Ken Willis, Dr Neil Adrian Powe

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.


Abstract

The ultimate test of the accuracy of contingent valuation methods (CVM), in measuring benefits, is whether subjects will actually pay the amounts that they say they could be willing to pay in a CVM study. An experiment was conducted in which the maximum WTP of potential visitors to enter Warkworth Castle was compared against the acceptance of an entrance ticket at their stated CV price, thus providing a real monetary test of value and behavioural intention. Only 40% of potential visitors at the Castle gate were willing to make a real economic commitment following their CV WTP responses. Whilst the CVM results were found to be comparable with other CVM studies in terms of content and construct validity, they clearly failed a criterion validity test, even when the CVM survey was juxtaposed to the behavioural intention stage. CVM studies need to adopt stringent criteria in deciding the 'truthfulness' and 'legitimacy' of WTP responses, if CVM is to provide accurate and robust estimates of the value of environmental goods.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Willis KG, Powe NA

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Journal of Environmental Planning and Management

Year: 1998

Volume: 41

Issue: 5

Pages: 611-619

Print publication date: 01/09/1998

ISSN (print): 0964-0568

ISSN (electronic): 1360-0559

Publisher: Routledge

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09640569811489

DOI: 10.1080/09640569811489


Altmetrics

Altmetrics provided by Altmetric


Share