Table 3

Variables used in the analysis of willingness to pay for ecosystem conservation.

VariableDescription
Dependent variableMarginal willingness to pay; initial estimates of primary study converted into 2010 prices followed by purchasing power parity dollars using Penn PPP index
Explanatory variables 
Conservation type (T) 
  PreservationDummy = 1 if management strategy was preservation; else 0
  Forest restorationDummy = 1 if management strategy was forest restoration; else 0
  Freshwater restorationDummy = 1 if management strategy was freshwater restoration; else 0
Conservation scope (S)a 
  AttributeDummy = 1 if improvement was in a specific attribute; else 0
  Program lowDummy = 1 if improvement was program low (improvement in more than attribute); else 0
  Program highDummy=1 if improvement was program high (improvement in more than one attribute); else 0
Valuation characteristics (V) 
  Sample sizeNumber of households (or individuals) used in estimation by primary study
  Elicitation format 
    Choice experiment (CE)Dummy = 1 if choice experiment (CE), else 0
    Dichotomous choice (DCCV)Dummy = 1 if contingent ranking (CR), else 0
    Contingent ranking (CR)Dummy = 1 if dichotomous choice contingent valuation (DCCV), else 0
    CE × ASCDummy = 1 if WTP computation based on CE included ASC
Payment vehicle 
  TaxDummy = 1 if payment vehicle tax, else 0
    FeesDummy = 1 if payment vehicle fees (higher utility bill), else 0
    VoluntaryDummy = 1 if payment vehicle voluntary contribution, else 0
  Payment frequencyb  Dummy = 1 if payment was onetime lump sum payment, else 0 (the alternative was a recurring payment)
  WTP form – householdDummy = 1 if primary study estimated household WTP, else 0 (the alternative was individual WTP)
Context characteristics (C) 
  TrendYear 1985 (=1) through 2011 (=27); the period during which surveys by the primary studies were administered.
  USADummy = 1 if country was USA; else 0 (countries including Canada, Finland, Germany, Poland, Spain, UK were treated as a group)
  GDP per capitaGDP per capita expressed in 2010 prices in each country followed by conversion into purchasing power dollars
a

This classification encompasses improvements in a given attribute (s) in quantitative as well as qualitative terms depending on how the primary studies framed changes.

b

Recurring payments by households were to last for one of the three periods: 5 years, 10 years, or ongoing indefinitely.

or Create an Account

Close Modal
Close Modal