Using Individualised Choice Maps to Capture the Spatial Dimensions of Value Within Choice Experiments

Michael Burton,Tomas Badura,Ian J Bateman,Amy Binner,Silvia Ferrini

doi:10.1007/s10640-019-00358-3

Abstract

Understanding how the value of environmental goods and services is influenced by their location relative to where people live can help identify the economically optimal spatial distribution of conservation interventions across landscapes. However, capturing these spatial relationships within the confines of a stated preference study has proved challenging. We propose and implement a novel approach to incorporating space within the design and presentation of stated preference choice experiments (CE). Using an investigation of preferences concerning land use change in Great Britain, CE scenarios are presented through individually generated maps, tailored to each respondent’s home location. Each choice situation is generated in real time and is underpinned by spatially tailored experimental designs that reflect current British land uses and incorporate locational attributes relating to physical and administrative dimensions of space. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first CE study to integrate space into both the survey design and presentation of choice tasks in this way. Presented methodology provides means for testing how presentation of spatial information influence stated preferences. We contrast our spatially explicit (mapped) approach with a commonly applied tabular CE approach finding that the former exhibits a number of desirable characteristics relative to the latter.

Highlights

Introduction and Literature ReviewChoice experiments (CEs) have been increasingly used to inform decision makers about preferences for and values regarding potential environmental change (e.g. Johnston et al 2017)
This paper presents a novel approach for spatially-relevant choice experiments applied to a case study assessing preferences for land use change interventions in high intensity agricultural landscapes in Great Britain
Choice set options were generated by further taking into account current land use and the respondent’s location

Summary

Introduction

Choice experiments (CEs) have been increasingly used to inform decision makers about preferences for and values regarding potential environmental change (e.g. Johnston et al 2017). A topic of considerable interest concerns the capture of spatial variation in the value of environment-related goods within CE investigations of willingness to pay (WTP) for changes in the provision of such goods. Environmental policies are likely to generate spatial and temporal trade-offs in the provision of ecosystem related goods and services (Rodríguez et al 2006; Fisher et al 2009; Fisher and Turner 2008). Understanding spatial trade-offs between competing land uses and preferences for (potential) changes is crucial for the efficient targeting of policy interventions Understanding spatial trade-offs between competing land uses and preferences for (potential) changes is crucial for the efficient targeting of policy interventions (e.g. Bateman et al 2011a, b, c, 2013; Fisher et al 2011; Johnston et al 2016)

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