Demand and supply of agricultural ES: towards benefit-based policy

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 1223-1249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annika Tienhaara ◽  
Emmi Haltia ◽  
Eija Pouta ◽  
Kyösti Arovuori ◽  
Ioanna Grammatikopoulou ◽  
...  

Abstract In order to integrate ecosystem services (ES) in designing agri-environmental policy, we investigated both the demand for, and supply of, ES from agricultural environments in Finland. Using the discrete choice experiment method, we measured citizens’ willingness to pay (WTP) for four different ES and analysed farmers’ compensation request (willingness to accept [WTA]) for producing these services. Biodiversity and water quality gathered the highest WTA of farmers, but also the highest WTP of citizens. Overall, the average WTA exceeded the WTP for almost all attributes and levels, but 20–27 per cent of farmers were willing to produce the ES with the compensation lower than citizens’ WTP.

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 484
Author(s):  
Jiří Louda ◽  
Ondřej Vojáček ◽  
Lenka Slavíková

The reflection of ecosystem services in environmental policy has recently become a key aspect in solving environmental problems occurring as a consequence of their overburdening. However, decision makers often pay attention predominantly to results of quantitative (monetary valuation) methods. This article explores a new way of combining quantitative and qualitative methods that has proven to be a useful practice for achieving better environmental governance. We combine the (quantitative) choice experiment method and (qualitative) institutional analysis as full and equal complements. In our approach, the goal of qualitative institutional analysis is not to verify the adequacy of willingness-to-pay results but rather to better address cultural and social perspectives of society representatives. Such an approach increases the robustness of policy recommendations and their acceptance in comparison with isolated applications of both methods. To verify this general premise, both methods were applied in the territory of the Eastern Ore Mountains in the Czech Republic to capture preferences and attitudes of local stakeholders as well as tourists towards small-scale ecosystems. The results confirm that preference calculations regarding aesthetic values of ecosystems need to be complemented with facts about institutional settings and barriers in order to better address locally relevant recommendations for decision makers, such as the introduction of new economic instruments (e.g., local taxes or entrance fees). The findings of this study can also be considered for governance of larger local, common-pool resources such as (public) forests or protected areas.


2007 ◽  
Vol 38 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 373-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Hasler ◽  
T. Lundhede ◽  
L. Martinsen

Clean drinking water can be secured either through protection of the groundwater resource or via purification of polluted water. In this study, the choice experiment method is used to assess the benefits of groundwater protection compared with the benefits of purification. The choice experiment method has been chosen as it allows the effects on drinking water and those on surface water quality to be assessed separately. The benefits associated with clean drinking water are found to be significant for both management options, although the willingness to pay for protection exceeds the willingness to pay for purification.


2008 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1110-1119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janneke P.C. Grutters ◽  
Alfons G.H. Kessels ◽  
Carmen D. Dirksen ◽  
Debby van Helvoort-Postulart ◽  
Lucien J.C. Anteunis ◽  
...  

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 3111
Author(s):  
Blanca Isabel Sánchez-Toledano ◽  
Venancio Cuevas-Reyes ◽  
Zein Kallas ◽  
Jorge A. Zegbe

Background: According to Mexican growers of ‘Jalapeño’ peppers, its commercialization is the primary limitation. Thus, consumer knowledge is critical to develop added-value strategies. The objective of this study was to identify ‘Jalapeño’ quality attributes to determine consumer preferences and willingness to pay, based on socioeconomic characteristics. Methods: A nationwide face-to-face survey was carried out using the discrete choice experiment method. The survey included 1200 consumers stratified by gender, age and region. Results: Heterogeneity analysis using the probabilistic segmentation model revealed three types of consumers: A price-sensitive segment, non-demanding consumers without specific preferences and selective consumers with a preference shifted toward specific ‘Jalapeño’ characteristics. Thus, detail-oriented producers must compete through price strategies, based on the marketplace (markets on wheels, grocery stores, or supermarkets) and through some quality attributes preferred by selective consumers. Therefore, results suggest that farmers should grow the correct varieties with appropriate agronomic management to cope consumer preferences. Conclusions: This paper contributes to the growing body of the ‘Jalapeño’ literature by explicitly investigating consumer preferences and willingness to pay for them.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Danne ◽  
Saramena Meier-Sauthoff ◽  
Oliver Musshoff

Abstract Background: In order to achieve an environmentally friendly and sustainable energy supply, it is necessary that this goal is supported by society. In different countries worldwide it has been shown that one way consumers want to support the energy transition is by switching to green electricity. However, few people make the leap from their intention to a buying decision. This study explores parameters that influence whether German consumers would hypothetically decide to switch to a green electricity tariff.Methods: A quota-representative online survey including a discrete choice experiment with 371 German private households was conducted in 2016. For the econometric analysis, a generalized multinomial logit model in willingness to pay space was employed, enabling the estimation of WTP values to be as realistic as possible.Results: The results show that consumers’ decision whether or not to make the switch to green energy is mainly influenced by the source of green energy, whether a person can outsource the switching process, and a person’s attitude towards the renewable energy sources levy that currently exist in Germany.Conclusions: The findings indicate that politics should focus on supporting wind and solar energy as German consumers prefer these sources over biogas. As the results suggest, the EEG levy is a reason why consumers have lower WTP for switching to a green tariff. Therefore a switching bonus with a specifically “framed” bonus in the amount of the current EEG levy could be a promising strategy for the increase of green energy tariff acceptance. Furthermore, attention should be given to psychological and behavioral aspects, as the results indicate that these factors influence the consumer’s choice for a green electricity tariff.JEL classifications: C23, C25, Q40, Q50


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. e002209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahari Yihdego ◽  
Ayanaw Amogne ◽  
Selamawit Desta ◽  
Yoonjoung Choi ◽  
Solomon Shiferaw ◽  
...  

IntroductionBirth registration remains limited in most low and middle-income countries. We investigated which characteristics of birth registration facilities might determine caregivers’ decisions to register children in Ethiopia.MethodsWe conducted a discrete choice experiment in randomly selected households in Addis Ababa and the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region. We interviewed caregivers of children 0–5 years old. We asked participants to make eight choices between pairs of hypothetical registration facilities. These facilities were characterised by six attributes selected through a literature review and consultations with local stakeholders. Levels of these attributes were assigned at random using a fractional design. We analysed the choice data using mixed logit models that account for heterogeneity in preferences across respondents. We calculated respondents’ willingness to pay to access registration facilities with specific attributes. We analysed all data separately by place of residence (urban vs rural).ResultsSeven hundred and five respondents made 5614 choices. They exhibited preferences for registration facilities that charged lower fees for birth certificates, that required shorter waiting time to complete procedures and that were located closer to their residence. Respondents preferred registration facilities that were open on weekends, and where they could complete procedures in a single visit. In urban areas, respondents also favoured registration facilities that remained open for extended hours on weekdays, and where the presence of only one of the parents was required for registration. There was significant heterogeneity between respondents in the utility derived from several attributes of registration facilities. Willingness to pay for access to registration facilities with particular attributes was larger in urban than rural areas.ConclusionIn these regions of Ethiopia, changes to the operating schedule of registration facilities and to application procedures might help improve registration rates. Discrete choice experiments can help orient initiatives aimed at improving birth registration.


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