Stated Preference Choice Experiment Research Articles

High Public Good Values for Ecosystem Service Attributes of on-farm Quinoa Diversity Conservation in Peru

Agrobiodiversity is associated with a range of important but poorly quantified public good ecosystem services, the conservation of which requires public support. With a view to determining the general public’s willingness to pay (WTP) for such conservation, we organised interviews with 491 adult Peruvian residents in three regions a stated preference choice experiment (CE) to elicit the value they place on crop genetic resources conservation, using quinoa cultivation as a case study. Responses revealed strong support for the conservation of quinoa diversity particularly when conservation was framed in terms of conserving national cultural identity or food security. Respondents were willing to make a one-off donation of US$31.79 to an in situ on-farm quinoa crop diversity conservation programme, placing the highest values on programme attributes related to securing bequest/existence and option values, followed closely by stable landscape conservation. WTP was higher when the public was reminded that conservation also contributed to national cultural identify or food security. A conservative aggregation of the WTP estimates to the population of the three regions results in an estimated total WTP for quinoa conservation of US$24.18 m and a benefit-cost ratio of 1.22. Findings demonstrate the significant and frequently ignored social welfare benefits associated with non-market agrobiodiversity-related public good ecosystem services, in this case equivalent to just over a quarter of market production values. Such information can be used to design and prioritise quinoa genetic diversity conservation programmes with an emphasis on such attributes.

What motivates the use of shared mobility systems and their integration with public transit? Evidence from a choice experiment study

Shared mobility, including bike-sharing, shared e-scooter, and ride-hailing, could improve transportation sustainability when substituting private car use and integrating with public transit. However, if shared mobility competes with other green modes, it cannot guarantee sustainability benefits. The competing and synergistic relationships between conventional modes and shared mobility are complex and not well-studied to date. Understanding users’ preferences in mode choice decisions among shared mobility, conventional modes, and multimodal systems can help better evaluate the impact of shared mobility adoption and support related policies. This paper presents the design and results of a stated-preference choice experiment study conducted in Indianapolis, Indiana. An integrated choice and latent variable (ICLV) model was estimated to identify attributes that affect travelers’ mode choices for both non-commuting and commuting purposes. Results show that (1) travel cost and travel time are significant variables and their impact on mode choice for system integration and competition is elastic; and (2) user heterogeneity can be observed through three latent variables (perceptions of shared mobility, travel attributes importance, and social values) to identify traveler’s preferences and concerns for mode choice. The contributions from this study include: (1) developing quantitative models to estimate mode choice behavior with regard to shared mobility use, and (2) identifying a set of policy guidelines for system development to encourage multimodal usage and decrease car dependency.

The Impacts of Low-Carbon Incentives and Carbon-Reduction Awareness on Airport Ground Access Mode Choice under Travel Time Uncertainty: A Hybrid CPT-MNL Model

Developing strategies to incentivize travelers towards adopting sustainable mobility options is one of the effective approaches to mitigate carbon emissions. Using Xi’an Xianyang International Airport as a case study, this study aims to explore the effects of low-carbon incentives and carbon-reduction awareness on airport ground access mode choices. In addition, to account for the complex road environment, an innovative stated preference choice experiment was designed, integrating the factor of travel time uncertainty. Then, a hybrid cumulative prospect theory–Multinomial Logit (CPT-MNL) model was also developed. The estimated results revealed that travelers increasingly prioritize emissions reduction and consciously prefer sustainable mobility options to reach the airport. Furthermore, the potential of low-carbon incentives to encourage public transport usage over private vehicles has been highlighted. Notably, travel time uncertainty had a significant impact on the choice of private cars. When the travel time to the airport is uncertain, travelers exhibit a greater inclination towards selecting public transport. The findings of this study offer nuanced insights for transportation authorities, aiding them in fostering the adoption of sustainable mobility options and achieving carbon reduction objectives.

Exploring the choice between in-store versus online grocery shopping through an application of Semi-Compensatory Independent Availability Logit (SCIAL) model with latent variables

This paper examines individuals' choice of in-store and online grocery shopping channels using stated preference (SP) choice experiments. The study uses 1,391 records from a stated preference choice experiment in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Canada. It applies a Semi-Compensatory Independent Availability Logit (SCIAL) Model with latent variables. The methodology accounts for semi-compensatory choice behaviour through probabilistic choice set formation considering effects from socioeconomic and psychological variables. This study demonstrates the advantage of considering probabilistic choice set formation and semi-compensatory behaviour in modelling the adoption of innovative products. Empirical results reveal that shoppers demonstrated similar myopic behaviours once they firmly considered in-store grocery and subscribed free delivery services in their choice sets. They are equally likely to choose both channels without careful comparison to alternative channels once they firmly consider both channels in the choice set. However, considering the latter in choice sets is much costlier than in-store shopping. Therefore, in-store grocery shopping will still dominate the grocery shopping channel unless all home delivery services become free. Moreover, grocery shoppers value same-day delivery service. For typical delivery services charged between $4 and $20 in the GTA, Canada, grocery shoppers are willing to pay between $3.91 and $8.44 for same-day delivery. The latent variable describing shoppers’ perceived pandemic fear significantly contributes to the choice set inclusion probability of in-store grocery pick-up services, but the effect is not significant for other home delivery channels. This highlights heterogeneity in grocery shoppers' choice behaviour within the online channel.

Joint estimation of angler revealed preference site selection and stated preference choice experiment recreation data considering attribute non-attendance

ABSTRACT We estimate angler demand models with revealed preference (RP) and stated preference (SP) site selection marine recreational fishing data. We combine RP data from the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) creel survey with SP discrete choice experiment survey data from 2003/2004. There are eight SP trip decisions and one RP trip decision for each of 1928 anglers who provided enough information to be analysed. Joint RP-SP generalized multinomial logit models are estimated. We find that the SP travel cost coefficient is much lower than the RP travel cost coefficient in absolute value, suggesting hypothetical bias in the SP data. This difference is reflected in the willingness to pay estimates, where the SP estimates for improved catch are much higher than the RP estimates. We use inferred attribute non-attendance (ANA) methods to identify respondents who may be ignoring the SP cost variable. The SP cost coefficient accounting for ANA is much higher in absolute value than the SP coefficient from the model that does not account for ANA. The ANA model indicates much more consistency between the RP and SP data. The smaller difference in the travel cost coefficients is also reflected in the willingness to pay estimates.

User interest in on-demand, shared, and driverless mobility: Evidence from stated preference choice experiments in Southern Ontario

Understanding how new technologies such as on-demand ride hailing and vehicle automation may affect travel behavior is important to craft better policy. This study uses a 2018 survey of 1,684 employed respondents from vehicle-holding households residing in Southern Ontario, Canada. Stated preference choice experiments are administered and mixed logit models are estimated to explore consumer interest in adopting driverless on-demand vehicles, shared on-demand vehicles, transit plus on-demand vehicles, and driverless public transit shuttles. Monetized generalized costs of each of these choice attributes are estimated. Results indicate generalized costs from combining transit with on-demand ride hailing (a frequently contemplated “last-mile” solution), while users are relatively ambivalent about the generalized cost of shared on-demand ride-hailing. Results indicate that consumers view driverless public transit shuttles and driverless cars as conferring higher generalized costs than vehicles with drivers. Overall, results suggest that the market shares of these modes depend on the potential for service providers to capitalize on heterogenous preferences among consumers. As such, insofar that public transit agencies and the public sector appear less well-suited to nimbly meet heterogeneous consumer demand, the private sector appears poised to play the most direct role in leveraging these new technologies towards meeting user needs. In turn, these findings suggest that the best role for the public sector with respect these new services lies in establishing incentives by engaging with private industry and/or regulating downstream impacts of new mobility services.

Joint Estimation of Revealed Preference Site Selection and Stated Preference Choice Experiment Recreation Data Considering Attribute Non-Attendance

We estimate demand models with revealed preference (RP) site selection and stated preference (SP) discrete choice experiment marine recreational fishing data. We combine RP data from the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) creel survey with SP survey data from 2003/04. RP and SP data combination is motivated by two factors. Catch rate information in the RP data are often thin, and use of SP scenarios for changes in catch can improve variation while minimizing multicollinearity. The SP data can suffer from hypothetical bias, which often manifests itself as bias in the cost coefficient. There are eight SP trip decisions and one RP trip decision for each of 1928 anglers who provided enough information to be analyzed. Joint RP-SP generalized multinomial logit models are estimated. We find that the SP travel cost coefficient is much lower than the RP travel cost coefficient in absolute value, suggesting hypothetical bias in the SP data. This difference is reflected in the willingness to pay estimates, where the SP estimates for improved catch are much higher than the RP estimates. Attribute non-attendance (ANA) arises when survey respondents ignore choice experiment attributes. We use inferred ANA methods to identify respondents who may be ignoring the SP cost variable. The generalized multinomial logit model accounting for ANA is statistically preferred. The SP cost coefficient accounting for ANA is much higher in absolute value than the SP coefficient from the model that does not account for ANA. The ANA model indicates much more consistency between the RP and SP data. The smaller difference in the travel cost coefficients is also reflected in the willingness to pay estimates. Key Words:

People with disabilities’ perceptions of autonomous vehicles as a viable transportation option to improve mobility: An exploratory study using mixed methods

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are expected to bring significant changes to the mobility of people, especially those with disabilities. Despite the strong potential of AVs to impact the lives of people with disabilities, little attention has been paid to understand their perspectives on this technology. This study aims to fill the gap, by exploring the mobility challenges experienced by people with disabilities and the overall perceptions of autonomous vehicle transportation (AVT) services among people with disabilities. The specific focus is on individuals with physical disabilities and individuals with visual impairments. This study used a three-phase exploratory sequential mixed-methods design. We began by conducting focus groups and analyzing the collected data. From the focus group results, we developed a survey instrument in the second phase. In the third phase, we collected and analyzed the survey data to verify the initial focus group findings. Additionally, the survey included stated preference choice experiments to assess the AV acceptance level of people with disabilities. The results revealed that people with disabilities’ mobility issues with current public transit services and neighborhood built environments may influence their positive attitudes toward AVT services. Despite several concerns raised about AVs regarding accessibility, safety, and reliability, most participants showed a high acceptance level of AVT. The findings provide industry and policy-makers with insights into the expectations, concerns, and needs regarding AVT from the perspectives of people with disabilities.

Effects of Charging Infrastructure Characteristics on Electric Vehicle Preferences of New and Used Car Buyers in the United States

The used car market is a critical element for the mass adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). However, most previous studies on EV adoption have focused only on new car markets. This article examines and compares the effects of charging infrastructure characteristics on the preferences for EVs among both new and used car buyers. This study is based on an online stated preference choice experiment among private car owners in the U.S., and the results of comparable binomial logistic models show that new and used car buyers generally share similar patterns in preferences for EVs, with exceptions for sensitivity toward fast charging time, and home charging solutions. Respondents’ stated willingness to adopt an EV increases considerably with improvements in driving range, and the effects on new and used car buyers are similar. The study also finds that better availability of charging infrastructure largely increases preference for EVs. The results further reveal that slow and fast charging have complementary effects on encouraging EV adoption as the combination of public slow and fast charging can compensate for the unavailability of home charging.

Does angler willingness-to-pay for changes in harvest regulations vary by state? Results from a choice experiment in the Gulf of Mexico

Information on the economic value of changes in harvest regulations such as bag limits is necessary to understand the economic benefits and costs of recreational fishing policies. As fishery managers consider policies that vary across space, time, and angler groups we need information on the distribution of angler willingness-to-pay (WTP) for regulations across these dimensions. In this paper we ask whether angler WTP for changes in bag limits varies by state of license. We estimated an angler choice model using data from a stated preference choice experiment in the Gulf of Mexico. The parameters of the model were used to calculate the distribution of WTP for changes in bag limits for dolphinfish, snapper, red snapper, grouper, and king mackerel. Using the bag limit WTP distributions for each species we examined whether WTP varied by state in a statistically significant and economically meaningful way. We found that anglers with a license to fish in Florida were willing to pay relatively more for grouper bag limits than anglers with a license to fish in Louisiana. We also found that anglers with a license to fish in Alabama or Mississippi were willing to pay relatively more for red snapper bag limits than anglers with a license to fish in Florida. There were not significant differences in the WTP for the bag limits among anglers with a license to fish in Louisiana and anglers with a license to fish in Alabama or Mississippi.

Consumer willingness to pay for sustainability attributes in beer: A choice experiment using eco‐labels

AbstractCommercial and regional brewers are increasingly investing in environmental sustainability equipment that reduces input use, operating costs, and environmental impacts. These technologies often require prohibitively high upfront costs. One potential solution for these brewers is to market their product as sustainable and charge a premium to offset some of the costs. We undertake a stated preference choice experiment targeting a nationally representative sample of beer buyers and elicit preferences for multiple attributes related to environmental sustainability in beer. We find that, on average, beer buyers are willing to pay $0.70/six‐pack for beer produced using water and wastewater reduction technologies, $0.85 for carbon reduction practices, and $0.98 for landfill diversion practices, though water sustainability practices appeal to a largest share of beer buyers. We also find that preferences for sustainability attributes are widely distributed among beer drinkers, largely irrespective of sociodemographic characteristics. The positive price premiums across sustainability attributes suggest beer buyers value sustainable brewing, and brewers could attract new consumers by simultaneously communicating their commitment to sustainability and differentiating their product [EconLit Citations: D12, L66, M31].

Attribute Non-attendance in Choice Experiments of Marine Ecosystem Goods and Services: Special Issue Introduction

Previous articleNext article No AccessAttribute Non-attendance in Choice Experiments of Marine Ecosystem Goods and Services: Special Issue IntroductionDaniel K. Lew and John C. WhiteheadDaniel K. LewAlaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service Search for more articles by this author and John C. WhiteheadAppalachian State University Search for more articles by this author Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA, National Marine Fisheries ServiceAppalachian State UniversityPDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Marine Resource Economics Volume 35, Number 3July 2020Attribute Non-Attendance in Choice Experiments of Marine Ecosystem Goods and Services Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/709439 Views: 142Total views on this site Citations: 4Citations are reported from Crossref HistoryReceived March 07, 2020Accepted March 23, 2020Published online June 10, 2020 © 2020 MRE Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved.PDF download Crossref reports the following articles citing this article:María Espinosa-Goded, Macario Rodriguez-Entrena, Melania Salazar-Ordóñez A straightforward diagnostic tool to identify attribute non-attendance in discrete choice experiments, Economic Analysis and Policy 71 (Sep 2021): 211–226.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eap.2021.04.012Jane L. Harrison, Alexandra Naumenko, John C. Whitehead ATTRIBUTE NONATTENDANCE AND CITIZEN PREFERENCES FOR ECOSYSTEM‐BASED FISHERIES MANAGEMENT: THE CASE OF ATLANTIC MENHADEN, Contemporary Economic Policy 39, no.22 (Oct 2020): 310–324.https://doi.org/10.1111/coep.12511Daniel K. Lew and John C. Whitehead Attribute Non-attendance as an Information Processing Strategy in Stated Preference Choice Experiments: Origins, Current Practices, and Future Directions, Marine Resource Economics 35, no.33 (Jun 2020): 285–317.https://doi.org/10.1086/709440John C. Whitehead, Pamela Wicker The effects of training satisfaction and weather on revisiting sport events and their monetary value: The role of attribute non-attendance, Tourism Management Perspectives 35 (Jul 2020): 100713.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2020.100713

Attribute Non-attendance as an Information Processing Strategy in Stated Preference Choice Experiments: Origins, Current Practices, and Future Directions

AbstractStated preference discrete choice experiments (CE) are increasingly being used by researchers seeking to understand people’s preferences and values in environmental economics, transportatio...

Public preferences for ecological indicators used in Everglades restoration.

The Everglades is one of the largest wetland ecosystems in the world covering almost 18,000 square miles from central Florida southward to Florida Bay. Over the 20th century, efforts to drain the Everglades for agriculture and development severely damaged the ecosystem so that today roughly 50% of the historic flow of water through the Everglades has been diverted elsewhere. In an attempt to restore the Everglades, the U.S. Congress authorized the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) in 2000, expected to cost over $16 billion and to take several decades to complete. We used the results from a stated preference choice experiment (SPCE) survey of Florida households to estimate the willingness to pay for several ecological attributes related to CERP performance indicators likely to be impacted by Everglades restoration. We also used a latent class model (LCM) to explore preference heterogeneity among respondents. On average, survey respondents were willing to pay for improvements in all of the attributes included in the survey, namely increased populations of wading birds, American alligators, endangered snail kites, and spotted seatrout, and reduced polluted discharges from Lake Okeechobee to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers. Willingness to pay was highest for reduced polluted discharges from Lake Okeechobee.

Trade Uber for the Bus?

Problem, research strategy, and findings: Few studies have examined ride-hail users’ individual preferences between ride-hail and transit. Based on a survey of ride-hail users in the Philadelphia (PA) region, I examine who uses ride-hail and investigate ride-hail users’ willingness to use ride-hail versus transit. My results suggest that more than one-quarter of respondents replaced transit with ride-hail in their last ride-hail trips. Mixed logit regression analysis based on stated preference choice experiments indicate that higher-income respondents and respondents over 30 years old are increasingly willing to choose ride-hail over transit, even though their actual ride-hail usage is lower than that among lower-income and younger respondents. Results also show that female respondents are more willing to choose ride-hail over transit than male respondents and less frequent transit users are more likely to choose ride-hail than frequent transit users. Higher cost and longer trip duration are significant deterrents for travel by either mode. Respondents consider the time spent on walking to and from transit more burdensome than in-vehicle travel time and wait time for transit and ride-hail. They consider waiting for ride-hail less burdensome than waiting for transit. Survey sampling and design limitations provide lessons for future ride-hail studies.Takeaway for practice: Practitioners should ensure convenient, affordable travel options for lower-income residents, who are more frequent but less willing ride-hail users than higher-income residents. Female respondents’ safety concerns about transit should urge transit agencies to recognize female transit riders’ travel needs. The relationship between age and willingness to use ride-hail reminds planners to anticipate greater substitution of ride-hail for transit as the more tech-savvy generation starts entering their 30s. Last, fare reduction alone may not be enough to prompt ride-hail users to switch to transit. Service improvements that shorten the overall trip duration are imperative to make transit more attractive.

Expected Economic and Biological Impacts of Recreational Atlantic Striped Bass Fishing Policy

Understanding how recreational angling effort responds to regulatory adjustment is important for rebuilding overfished stocks such as Atlantic striped bass Morone saxatilis. In this paper, we use stated preference choice experiment data to evaluate how individual angler participation may respond to changes in fishing trip characteristics, particularly the number of small, medium-sized, and trophy striped bass kept and released. We use these results to simulate the aggregate effect of alternative fishing policies in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut on angler welfare, angler effort, recreational fishing mortality, and female spawning stock biomass. We find that a wide range of economically efficient policies are available if the primary management objective is to control recreational fishing mortality. In contrast, we find that the range of efficient policies is quite narrow if the primary management objective is to protect female spawning stock biomass. Additionally, only one of the 36 alternative policies analyzed; a one-fish harvest slot of 28” to 36”, is expected to achieve a nontrivial reduction in both total and female spawning stock removals relative to the actual 2015 policy of one fish, 28” or longer. Implementing a one-fish harvest slot of 28” to 36” comes with minimal costs in terms of foregone angler welfare due to the relatively low rate at which trophy striped bass in excess of 36” are encountered.

The non-market benefits of early and partial gains in managing threatened salmon.

Threatened species are increasingly dependent on conservation investments for persistence and recovery. Information that resource managers could use to evaluate investments–such as the public benefits arising from alternative conservation designs–is typically scarce because conservation benefits arise outside of conventional markets. Moreover, existing studies that measure the public benefits of conserving threatened species often do not measure the benefits from partial gains in species abundance that fall short of official recovery, or the benefits from achieving gains in species abundance that happen earlier in time. We report on a stated preference choice experiment designed to quantify the non-market benefits for conservation investments aimed at threatened Pacific Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) along the Oregon Coast (OC). Our results show that a program aimed at increasing numbers of returning salmon can generate sizable benefits of up to $518 million/y for an extra 100,000 returning fish, even if the species is not officially declared recovered. Moreover, while conservation investment strategies expected to achieve relatively rapid results are likely to have higher up-front costs, our results show that the public attaches substantial additional value of up to $277 million/y for achieving conservation goals quickly. Our results and approach can be used to price natural capital investments that lead to gains in returning salmon, and as inputs to evaluations of the benefits and costs from alternative conservation strategies.

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

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.

Place of Residence and Cost Attribute Non-Attendance in a Stated Preference Choice Experiment Involving a Marine Endangered Species

AbstractSpatial variation of economic benefits associated with endangered species based on place of residence may be important to understand given conservation actions often place an unequal burden...

Local people's preferences for biodiversity offsets to achieve ‘no net loss’ for economic developments

Understanding people's preferences for biodiversity offsetting activities can help to design offsets that achieve ‘no net loss’ (NNL) of biodiversity while incorporating the use and cultural values associated with this biodiversity. We use a stated preference choice experiment to solicit preferences for different proposed biodiversity offsets, linked to two hydropower developments in Uganda, with the aim of improving social outcomes of the offsets. We surveyed 1215 respondents from six villages located along the river impacted by the hydropower projects. Overall, people preferred offsets and compensatory activities that benefit the entire village rather than just a few individuals. People opposed the removal of non-native trees from their Central Forest Reserve and some responded negatively towards free access to spiritual sites. Respondents' choices were influenced by gender, age, education level, length of time lived in the village, level of poverty, and whether they believed that the hydropower development had affected their wellbeing. Preferences also varied significantly between villages. Our findings provide insight into locally preferred options for biodiversity NNL offsets. They also demonstrate the use of choice experiments to inform decisions about biodiversity offsets, as part of ensuring that NNL strategies do not make local people worse off.