Evaluating Risk and Natural Gas Pipeline Safety

Abstract

This research conducts an experiment on individuals’ perceptions of natural gas pipeline incidents and the expansion of natural gas pipeline infrastructure in the United States. This work contributes to the literature on natural gas pipeline safety and risk by utilizing Kahneman and Tversky's Prospect Theory. This work is relevant from a public policy perspective because of the recent expansion of the U.S. natural gas pipeline network that has been underway since 2010. It provides policy makers with a better understanding of how the public perceives risks and benefits associated with pipeline expansion. Overall, the study results find that when individuals balanced the benefits and risks of pipeline expansion, a majority of all respondents (53.4 percent) picked safety over monetary gains. Further, a majority of respondents who received at least one treatment were more likely to choose safety and two‐thirds of respondents who received a second treatment chose safety over material benefits associated with pipeline expansion.Related Articles Ash, John S. 2010. “.” Politics & Policy 38 (): 255‐284. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2011.00310.x/full Ash, John S. 2011. “.” Politics & Policy 39 (): 317‐344. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2010.00237.x/full Neill, Katharine A., and John C. Morris. 2012. “.” Politics & Policy 40 (): 629‐656. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2012.00371.x/full Related Media Kassab, Beth, and Kevin Spear. 2017. “.” Orlando Sentinenal. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/environment/os-sabal-trail-pipeline-impact-20170329-story.html Parry, Wayne. 2017. “.” Associated Press. February 24. http://6abc.com/news/hotly-contested-nj-pinelands-natural-gas-pipeline-approved/1771013/