Choice Experiment Technique Research Articles

Consumers’ purchase propensity for pasta tracked with blockchain technology and labelled with sustainable credence attributes

IntroductionPasta is a key product in Italy’s agri-food industry, consumed due to its ease of preparation, nutritional richness, and cultural importance. Evolving consumer awareness has prompted adaptations in the pasta market, to address concerns about social, environmental, quality, and food safety issues. This study examines Italian consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for pasta in local markets, analysing their behaviours and preferences.MethodsFor this purpose, we used a discrete choice experiment (DCE) technique combined with a latent variable model. We also collected 397 valid online questionnaires.Results and DiscussionThe results reveal an interest utility among all respondents to pay a price premium of €1.16, €0.82, €0.62, €0.41, and €0.36 for 500 g of pasta, for the use of blockchain/QR code (BC) technology on the label, providing data on credence attributes such as safety, environmental and social sustainability as well as business innovative practices, respectively. As such, this research has private and public implications. On one hand, this research may bridge the scarcity in studies regarding consumer preferences and WTP for BC in the pasta value chain, preventing agricultural frauds, ensuring the sustainability and quality of agri-food products like pasta, and protecting and educating consumers through clear and transparent information. On the other hand, this research may incentivise pasta businesses to meet social and environmental consumers’ demands while simultaneously enhancing their financial performance.

Does location of the households' matters? Identifying the households' willingness to pay and preference heterogeneity in advancement of vulnerable ecosystem services: An approach of choice experiment.

The present research underlines the need to expand far outside bundling or hierarchical providing strategy that often focuses on a specific habitat or ecosystem and creates a location-based strategy that considers how dependency in other parts of the region with ecosystem functions and processes leads to complements and resources' trade-offs. Thus, for assessment of spatial heterogeneity based on willingness to pay (WTP) for upgrading environmental attributes across Heihe River Basin (HRB), a choice experiment survey was carried out in the entire river basin. The HRB is one of the big inland river in the Northwestern region of China and is selected on basis of its geomorphological and geographical significance. A sum of 1679 individuals were interviewed through choice experiment technique from whole river basin consisting of five main cities and 33 adjoining rural areas. The Random Parameter logit model, Krinsky-Robb technique as well as delta method were applied for the evaluation of spatial heterogeneity and estimation of individual specific WTP, respectively. Spatial heterogeneity is verified among sampled individuals' preferences about upgradation of environmental attributes, such as, observed preferences of individuals' and their varying corresponding WTP amounts for per unit's upgradation in agriculture product quality, greenhouse gases reduction, farmland landscape, and biodiversity, which reflects heterogeneous tastes and preferences of the selected individuals. In addition, the assessed outcomes for identifying the impacts of distance decay through random parameter logit model depicted the vital role of distance influence on respondents' WTP for restoring the degraded environmental attributes, such that among 3 ad hoc distance bands, WTP of those sampled individuals who are in proximity of ≤ 10km to HRB is more than the rest of the individuals, i.e., individuals living in the range of ≤ 20km and > 20km. For instance, WTP for agriculture product quality is 119.147 CNY/year in ≤ 10km and is higher than the remainders.

Quantifying the spatial preferences heterogeneity to upgrade the endemic ecological attributes for a cleaner environment: Evaluating the feasibility of benefit transfer among sub-basins of an inland river

The role of wetlands in the conservation of global biodiversity is very significant due to the provision of various benefits to households. The assessment of these benefits and general public perception in terms of their willingness to pay for restoring the degraded ecosystem services is also heterogeneous because of their spatial preferences. This research employed a choice experiment technique to evaluate willingness to pay of the households to improve the current degraded ecosystem services and assessed benefit transfer among upper, middle and lower sub-basins of Heihe River. The outcomes of the study were estimated through two models, i.e. the conditional logit and random parameter logit models. The heterogeneous willingness to pay amounts for ecosystem services confirm the variations in taste and preferences of the respondents across all sub-basins. Considering spatial heterogeneity of the preferences, the random parameter logit model resulted in smaller transfer errors than the conditional logit model. The values of transfer errors estimated by the random parameter logit model from the lower to the upper sub-basin, from the upper to the middle sub-basin and from the middle to the lower sub-basin were 17.76%, 80.65% and 33.92%, respectively, and the reason for these smaller values is the consideration of taste and preferences of the respondents. On the other hand, the estimated values of transfer errors for the same settings in the conditional logit model were 21.93%, 109.31% and 43.08%, respectively. The transfer error values thus validate the transfer of benefits across all the sub-basins of the river. Therefore, the current findings are helpful in proper management of ecosystem services and permit for benefit transfer from one sub-basin to another sub-basin of Heihe River.

How is your life? understanding the relative importance of life domains amongst older adults, and their associations with self-perceived COVID-19 impacts.

PurposeThis study aims to provide new knowledge on the relative importance of key life domains amongst older adults, and how the Coronavirus pandemic has influenced their life (domain) satisfaction.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was administrated to an online panel of the general public aged 65 years and older in Australia from 28 April to 26 May 2020. Life satisfaction was measured by the Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI, including both global life satisfaction and life domain satisfaction). A discrete choice experiment technique was used to elicit how respondents perceive the relative importance of six key life domains drawn from the PWI: standard of living, health, relationships, safety, community connectedness, and future security.ResultsA total of 1,056 respondents (53% female) with a mean (range) age of 73 (65–91) years old completed the survey. After controlling for a rich set of confounding factors, regardless of the choice of overall life satisfaction indicators, there were consistent findings that the strongest negative influence of COVID-19 on life domains and decrements on life satisfaction was for Personal Health, Personal Relationships and Standard of Living. The DCE data revealed that all six life domains were statistically significant in contributing to a better life, and there exists some preference heterogeneity between those who perceived no impact versus negative impacts from COVID-19.ConclusionsFrom both revealed and stated preference data there was robust evidence that health, relationships, and standard of living represent the three most important life domains for older adults in Australia.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11136-021-03043-5.

Non-financial Incentives for Retention of Health Extension Workers in Somali Region of Ethiopia: A Discrete Choice Experiment.

The study evaluated non-financial incentive packages to retain health extension workers in the Somali Region of Ethiopia using the Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) technique, conducted among 66 health extension workers in 3 woredas (districts). The study used a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods in sequential order. Mixed logic regression modeling was used to determine the effect of different job attributes on the retention of the health extension workers, while Preference Impact Measure (PIM) was used to determine the combinations of preferred incentive packages to retain the health extension workers in their current workplace. Opportunity for continued education ranked first, 1.009 (0.655, 1.36), P = .000, followed by career advancement/opportunity for promotion, 0.321 (0.107, 0.534), P = .003, then supportive management 0.234 (−0.395, −0.073), P = .004. in terms of impact on retention. The most preferred incentive package for retention using the PIM model was opportunities for continued education after 3 years and always good availability of and access to amenities (running water, electricity, internet), which predicted a 77% retention rate if implemented. The identified proposed retention incentive packages will help in developing evidence-based incentive policies and strategies for the future retention of health extension workers in this region.

Economic Valuation of Forest Ecosystem Services in Kenya: Implication for Design of PES Schemes and Participatory Forest Management

Forest ecosystem services are critical for human well-being as well as functioning and growth of economies. However, despite the growing demand for these services, they are hardly given due consideration in public policy formulation. The values attached to these services by local communities are also generally unknown in developing countries. Using a case study of the Mau forest conservancy the study applied a choice experiment technique employing the efficient design criteria to value salient forest ecosystem services among forest adjacent communities. The values attached to various ecosystem services were estimated using the conditional logit, random parameter logit model and random parameter logit model with interactions. The results revealed high level of preference heterogeneity across households and that communities would prefer conservation programs that would guarantee them improved forest cover, reduced flood risk and high water quality and quantity for drinking but would experience a loss in welfare for choosing an alternative with medium wildlife population. One significant finding from the study is the altruistic nature of forest adjacent communities as revealed by the high willingness to pay for flood mitigation showing that they are not just concerned with the private benefits accruing to them but also the welfare of the society. Overall, we found that there is much appreciation for the role of forest ecosystem services and that forest adjacent communities are more pro conservation mainly motivated by the direct use and non-use values. In terms of policy, the information forms a basis for the design of market based incentives such as PES and the roll out, design and implementation of participatory forest management. Policy makers also need to focus on policy options with higher mean welfare impacts to deepen community involvement in forest conservation while taking into account the heterogeneity in preferences to ensure equity.

Assessing couples' preferences for fresh or frozen embryo transfer: a discrete choice experiment.

What are couples' preferences for fresh embryo transfer versus freezing of all embryos followed by frozen embryo transfer and the associated clinical outcomes that may differentiate them? Couples' preferences are driven by anticipated chances of live birth, miscarriage, neonatal complications, and costs but not by the differences in the treatment process (including delay of embryo transfer linked to frozen embryo transfer and risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) associated with fresh embryo transfer). A policy of freezing all embryos followed by transfer of frozen embryos results in livebirth rates which are similar to or higher than those following the transfer of fresh embryos while reducing the risk of OHSS and small for gestational age babies: it can, however, increase the risk of pre-eclampsia and large for gestational age offspring. Hence, the controversy continues over whether to do fresh embryo transfer or freeze all embryos followed by frozen embryo transfer. We used a discrete choice experiment (DCE) technique to survey infertile couples between August 2018 and January 2019. We asked IVF naïve couples attending a tertiary referral centre to independently complete a questionnaire with nine hypothetical choice tasks between fresh and frozen embryo transfer. The alternatives varied across the choice occurrences on several attributes including efficacy (live birth rate), safety (miscarriage rate, neonatal complication rate), and cost of treatment. We assumed that a freeze-all strategy prolonged treatment but reduced the risk of OHSS. An error components mixed logit model was used to estimate the relative value (utility) that couples placed on the alternative treatment approaches and the attributes used to describe them. Willingness to pay and marginal rates of substitution between the non-cost attributes were calculated. A total of 360 individual questionnaires were given to 180 couples who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, of which 212 were completed and returned Our study population included 3 same sex couples (2 females and 1 male) and 101 heterosexual couples. Four questionnaires were filled by one partner only. The response rate was 58.8%. Couples preferred both fresh and frozen embryo transfer (odds ratio 27.93 and 28.06, respectively) compared with no IVF treatment, with no strong preference for fresh over frozen. Couples strongly preferred any IVF technique that offered an increase in live birth rates by 5% (P = 0.006) and 15% (P < 0.0001), reduced miscarriage by 18% (P < 0.0001) and diminished neonatal complications by 10% (P < 0.0001). Respondents were willing to pay an additional £2451 (95% CI 604 - 4299) and £761 (95% CI 5056-9265) for a 5 and 15% increase in the chance of live birth, respectively, regardless of whether this involved fresh or frozen embryos. They required compensation of £5230 (95% CI 3320 - 7141) and £13 245 (95% CI 10 110-16 380) to accept a 10 and 25% increase in the risk of neonatal complications, respectively (P < 0.001). Results indicated that couples would be willing to accept a 1.26% (95% CI 1.001 - 1.706) reduction in the live birth rate for a 1% reduction in the risk of neonatal complications per live birth. Older couples appeared to place less emphasis on the risk of neonatal complications than younger couples. DCEs can elicit intentions which may not reflect actual behaviour. The external validity of this study is limited by the fact that it was conducted in a single centre with generous public funding for IVF. We cannot rule out the potential for selection or responder bias. If a strategy of freeze all was to be implemented it would appear to be acceptable to patients, if either success rates can be improved or neonatal complications reduced. Live birth rates, neonatal complication rates, miscarriage rates, and cost are more likely to drive their preferences than a slight delay in the treatment process. The results of this study have important implications for future economic evaluations of IVF, as they suggest that the appropriate balance needs to be struck between success and safety. A holistic approach incorporating patient preferences for expected clinical outcomes and risks should be taken into consideration for individualized care. No external funding was sought for this study. A.M. is the chief investigator of the randomized controlled trial 'Freeze all'. S.B. is an Editor in Chief of Human Reproduction Open. The other co-authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. Graham Scotland reports non-financial support from Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, outside the submitted work. N/A.

Is there any demand for improved cooking stoves? Evidence from Bangladesh

Despite the multifarious benefits of improved cooking stoves (ICSs) over traditional biomass stoves, the ICSs adoption rate in rural Bangladesh remains nominal. This paper provides evidence that there is a growing demand for this environmentally friendly and less-hazardous stove. Using a discrete choice experiment (DCE) technique, we surveyed 259 sample households in the south-western region of Bangladesh. The results from the mixed logit model suggest that households are willing to pay (WTP) about $7 on average for a ‘realistic’ (i.e., one unit or 25 %) reduction in fuel consumption and smoke emission. Moreover, we found that a one-unit (33 %) reduction of cooking time and maintenance frequency increases households' WTP by about $3 and $5 respectively. Finally, this study underscores that extensive promotion, lower installation costs and higher social awareness about health risks and environmental degradation are likely to promote ICSs adoption.

Valuation of the EQ-5D-3L in Russia

PurposeThe most widely used generic questionnaire to estimate the quality of life for yielding quality-adjusted life years in economic evaluations is EQ-5D. Country-specific population value sets are required to use EQ-5D in economic evaluations. The aim of this study was to establish an EQ-5D-3L value set for Russia.MethodsA representative sample aged 18+ years was recruited from the Russia`s general population. Computer-assisted face–to–face interviews were conducted based on the standardized valuation protocol using EQ-Portable Valuation Technology. Population preferences were elicited utilizing both composite time trade-off (cTTO) and discrete choice experiment (DCE) techniques. To estimate the value set, a hybrid regression model combining cTTO and DCE data was used.ResultsA total of 300 respondents who successfully completed the interview were included in the primary analysis. 120 (40.0%) respondents reported no health problems of any dimension, and 56 (18.7%) reported moderate health problems in one dimension of the EQ‐5D‐3L. Median self-rated health using EQ‐VAS was 80 with IQR 70–90. Comparing cTTO and DCE-predicted values for 243 health states resulted in a similar pattern. This supports the use of hybrid models. The predicted value based on the preferred model for the worst health state “33333” was −0.503. Mobility dimension had the most significant impact on the utility decrement, and anxiety/depression had the lowest decrement.ConclusionDetermining a Russian national value set may be considered the first step towards promoting cost-utility analysis use to increase comparability among studies and improve the transferability of healthcare decision-making in Russia.

Ranking of ecosystem services on the basis of willingness to pay: Monetary assessment of a subset of ecosystem services in the Heihe River basin

The identification of public preferences and the welfares of river system evaluation are consequential for effective renovation of river system as well as viable river management. For this reason, the focus of current study was emphasized on respondent's willingness to pay through implementation of Random Parameter Logit model using data collected through choice experiment technique, in which the preferences of sampled respondent's in urban, rural and pooled data was evaluated for different abiotic and biotic ecosystem services across the entire Heihe River Basin. The estimated results revealed that average urban households are willing to pay more for the restoration of ecosystem services compared to rural residents. In abiotic ecosystem services, the maximum willingness to pay in all three geographical splitted regions was recorded for river water quality, while lowest was recorded for Lake Area in urban and pooled data and for Leisure and entertainment in rural area. Similarly, for biotic ecosystem services, the maximum willingness to pay was recorded for Greenhouse gases effect in urban and for Agricultural product quality in rural and pooled data while lowest was recorded for Oasis in all three regions. The study also recommends that the government of China should act appropriately to make improvements in level of water quality and restoration of ecosystem services. Similarly, water should be made available to the consumers in its best possible state. Furthermore, in case of any disorder in water quality in some regions, inhabitants need to be informed on time. Moreover, to fulfil the requirements for water, water programs and policies should be planned on the basis of demand. While making any policy there should be diverse actions, keeping in view the residents of urban and rural areas as the results approved the heterogeneity in their preferences.

Estimations of utility function and values of sustainable mining via the choice experiment method

Mining projects almost certainly influence the economy, society, and the environment. Accordingly, sustainable mining has economic, social and environmental attributes. Based on economic theories, researchers can obtain the value of mining based on the value of its attributes. The market may sometimes fail to evaluate some attributes, and thus researchers are increasingly using the “stated preference approach”. The present paper uses the “choice experiment” method, which is a subset of the stated preference approach for estimating the utility function and the value of effects caused by mining. A relevant questionnaire was handed out to individuals for this purpose. The conditional logit model and the calculated coefficients about the attributes of mining were shown to be capable of yielding relevant results for the utility function of sustainable mining. Furthermore, the value of sustainable mining in a mine as a case study was estimated equal to $ 11.3 per ton by calculating the willingness to pay for each of the attributes. This paper is quite new in terms of using the choice experiment technique for mine valuation as well as calculating this according to the sustainable development criteria. Estimating the preferences stated by individuals concerning the mining attributes can better assist in managing the effects. It is possible to design the mine to have the highest sustainable value and it can be the basis for comparing the mining projects.

Analysis of modal shift potential towards intermodal transportation in short-distance inland container transport

This study investigated modal shift potential in short-distance inland container transport by considering behavioral aspects of inland container transportation mode choice using the stated choice experiment technique. This was applied to one short-distance inland container transportation corridor in Turkey between Denizli region and the seaports of Izmir. The stated choice experiment in this study included two alternatives, intermodal-rail and road transport, as they are the two inland transportation modes available in this transport corridor. These transportation modes were described by five attributes: transportation cost, transit time, delay percentage, frequency and free time. Estimation results show that all five attributes are statistically significant, however, transit time is only statistically significant in the estimations of mixed logit models with random transit time coefficient indicating the preference heterogeneity of the respondents towards the transit time. The elasticities indicate that the transportation cost attribute has the biggest impact on mode choice and the modal shift is more sensitive to the road transport costs than the transportation cost of intermodal rail. The simulations showed that the most effective policy for modal shift towards intermodal rail in the investigated corridor is doubling the train frequency and reducing transit time 50% depending on the increased frequency. The outcomes and methodological approach of the study can provide a framework for developing effective modal shift policies to reduce the high road dependency of inland container transportation in Turkey and other countries. The case-specific approach can also help to identify modal shift policies and practices tailored to the characteristics of applied transportation corridors.

Household preferences when purchasing handwashing liquid soap: A choice experiment application

Limited information is provided on the potential impacts of ingredients in consumer products to assist individuals to purchase household products. This study applied the choice experiment technique to examine the preferences of 385 New Zealand households on their purchasing choice of liquid soap for handwashing. Results from the choice experiment survey, conducted in December 2016 to March 2017, indicated that a typical respondent from the full sample would be willing to pay premium prices for a bottle of liquid soap that is certified to be environmentally friendly (NZ$3.20), hypo-allergenic (NZ$2.90), contains natural ingredients (NZ$2.10), and has antibacterial properties (NZ$1.40). However, by dividing the full sample into four latent classes, a typical respondent in one class would pay NZ$1.88 to avoid the antibacterial activity. This study highlights the importance of accounting for preference heterogeneity across latent classes or respondent sub-groups to better understand preferences and awareness of ingredients in liquid soaps, such as antibacterial chemicals, that can pose environmental and health risks.

Spatial heterogeneity of ecosystem services: a distance decay approach to quantify willingness to pay for improvements in Heihe River Basin ecosystems.

The growing appreciation of distance decay as an important parameter necessary for estimating willingness to pay (WTP) is hugely recognized in the literature. In this paper, we estimated the extent to which distance decay and individual's socioeconomic characteristics influence the WTP for restoration of environmental quality attributes in the Heihe River Basin. A choice experiment technique was used to evaluate the household's WTP for the improvements in local environmental attributes. The results of mixed logit model significant impact of distance on the individual's WTP for the improvements in environmental attributes. Findings of the study revealed that people living within 25 km from the river are willing to pay more for an increase in the river water quality level, a reduction in sandstorm days, and an increase in the area of the east Juyan Lake than the people living within the range of 50 km and much more compared to 50 km away from the river. Based on the socioeconomic characteristics, it is concluded that the level of education, age, household's annual income, and household size have a significant effect on the WTP. Results of the implicit prices for each attribute showed the preferences of the inhabitants for every attribute, where the highest WTP in pooled data was recorded for river water quality level (i.e., RMB 124.81/year) and the lowest for leisure and entertainment (i.e., RMB 0.40/year). The highest WTP for water quality suggests that water quality level was the most favored attribute compared to others, subject to the given conditions of water quality and the river basin.

Economic valuation of grazing management practices: discrete choice modeling in pastoral systems of Kenya

This study estimates the economic contribution of grazing management practices in pastoral systems by specifically undertaking an economic analysis of pastoralists’ preferences for grazing management practices and the economic value pastoralists place on them. The study applied the discrete choice experiment technique using a D-optimal design, a multi-attribute preference elicitation method to evaluate the economic value of grazing management options practiced in pastoral areas of Kenya. The results show that pastoral communities derive positive utility in connected systems that enable reciprocal access to resources in both wet and dry seasons. Pastoralism adapts to spatial–temporal variability of pasture and water through herd mobility; hence the positive utility derived from practices that contribute to the availability of adequate water and pasture across the seasons. These findings provide empirical evidence on the social and economic net benefits of rangeland management practices that should be enhanced to promote sustainable management of rangeland resources.

Using discrete choice model to elicit preference for health-care priority setting.

BACKGROUND:Regarding lack of resources in the health-care sector, prioritization of these resources is inevitable. The objective of the current study was to elicit public preference in prioritizing and allocating health resources using a discrete choice experiment technique, which is currently the most commonly applied method in this field of researches.METHODS:In this discrete choice study, five attributes were selected through interview with 25 health experts to elicit people preferences in Tehran (Iran) in 2017. Eighteen choice tasks were arranged within 3 blocks, and this would be achieved with a sample size of 579. Choice data were modeled using generalized estimating equation method and STATA 14 software.RESULTS:Five attributes including level of emergency, severity of disease, communicable, benefit from treatment, and age are the most important attributes in the prioritizing health resources from the expert's point of view. As well as among these attributes, communicable (odds ratio = 2.81) is the most important attributes from the public's point of view.CONCLUSION:The results of this study could be very useful for prioritizing resources which is one of the most challenging measurements of the health system. By identifying the importance of each patient's characteristic, patients can be categorized in groups with different priorities, as well as the diagnosis-related group system, based on which resources are allocated.

Crop Insurance Scheme Among Paddy Farmers in Kedah, Malaysia: Are They Willing to Pay?

This study examines the farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) in contributing to the Crop Insurance Scheme (CIS) specifically among the paddy farmers in Kedah. The CIS reduces the risk that farmers face in the event of natural disaster such as flooding or crop failure causes from pest attack and crop diseases. In this study, we focus on three selected districts in Kedah. A total of 139 respondents were randomly selected from these areas. The CIS is based on a hypothetical product which contain of three main attributes; (1) type of coverage, (2) sum assured/benefit, (3) and premium payment or the price. Data are obtained by applying Choice Experiment (CE) technique and analyzed with the multinomial logit model (MNL). Two models are presented in this paper namely the basic model and the interaction model. The study shows, among others, that marginal willingness to pay to obtain protection from crop failure amongst the attributes ranges between RM33.69 to RM128.63 per year for the basic model. On the other hand the marginal willingness to pay for the interaction model ranges between RM19.42 to RM73.32.

Households’ Willingness-to-Pay for Wastewater Treatment in Traditional Agro-Food Processing Villages, Nhue-Day River Basin, Vietnam: Case Study in Hanoi City

Despite the number of studies focusing on the financial analysis of production activities, conducting on technical solutions, and improving water quality, no study has been conducted on the application of economic instruments that apply to water quality management in craft villages, and several studies of WTP also. This study aimed to estimate the households’ willingness-to-pay for wastewater treatment in selected traditional agro-food processing villages in Nhue-Day River Basin, Vietnam. A pilot Choice Experiment (CE) technique in Choice Modelling (CM) approach was applied for this study with 267 selected agro-food processing households by using the conditional logit (CL) and random parameter logit (RPL) models. The results showed that total annual environmental fee for wastewater treatment from agro-food processing households is estimated as 1089 million VND (equal to US$47,868 per year) for the total of 902 agro-food processing households in three research sites in Nhue-Day River Basin. This estimated budget for wastewater treatment accounted for 55.85% of total annual operation and maintenance costs only. In addition, the technology is improved to enable 90% of treated wastewater. Overall, the results of this study suggest the new wastewater treatment plant construction and improved wastewater collection system by increasing the investment in order to improve the water quality in Nhue-Day River Basin that brings about the reducing environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and human health risks.

Determining visitor preferences for rhinoceros conservation management at private, ecotourism game reserves in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa: A choice modeling experiment

South Africa harbours 95% of the world's threatened white rhinoceros (18000) population and 40% of the critically endangered black rhinoceros (1950) population. Increased levels of rhinoceros poaching in South Africa, and the imminent threat of extinction, have emphasized the need for improved management and conservation policies. This study employs a discrete choice experiment in order to value selected supply-side rhinoceros management and conservation strategies at private, ecotourism game reserves in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The valuation setting is couched in real-world management and conservation strategies presently under consideration at state-owned and privately-owned game reserves in South Africa. Results suggest that visitors to these reserves support the sale of stockpiled rhinoceros horn but are strongly opposed to the introduction of trophy hunting or the continuation of rhinoceros darting experiences. Based on the findings of this study, it appears that the choice experiment technique is a promising instrument, which can inform the design of rhinoceros management and conservation policies for privately-owned, ecotourism game reserves in South Africa, with the possibility of extending its use to state-owned nature reserves.

Public perceptions and externalities in tidal stream energy: A valuation for policy making

The Choice Experiment (CE) technique is applied for the first time to one of the most promising marine renewables, tidal stream energy, with two objectives: (i) to investigate the public perceptions of this renewable, and (ii) to estimate the externalities, i.e., the monetary value of the impacts of a tidal stream farm. Both aspects, public perceptions and externalities, are relevant to the policy makers: if a policy is to maximise social welfare, it should be in line with public supporting attitudes and have positive externalities; moreover, the externalities are a prerequisite for establishing the appropriate level of subsidy (e.g., through a feed-in tariff). In this work the environmental and socioeconomic externalities are calculated independently, in a procedure that is illustrated through a case study: a prospective tidal farm in Ria de Ribadeo, an estuary in NW Spain. The public perceptions are found to be generally positive; notwithstanding, a certain degree of NIMBYism is detected. As regards the externalities, we find a positive net value. These findings are encouraging for the development of tidal stream energy, and the quantitative results provide a basis to establish the level of subsidisation.