Papers by Jürgen Meyerhoff
Resource and Energy Economics, 2015
ABSTRACT Preference and institutional learning have been found to play a role as respondents move... more ABSTRACT Preference and institutional learning have been found to play a role as respondents move through a sequence of choice tasks in Choice Experiments (CE). Both learning effects imply that the degree of randomness in the responses is larger in initial choice situations than in subsequent ones. As a result, it has been suggested to include an Instruction Choice Set (ICS) prior to the choices used for generating benefit estimates. However, an ICS may induce a starting point effect biasing Willingness to Pay (WTP) estimates. Subsequent choices may not only be influenced by the levels of the cost attribute, but also by the levels of the non-cost attributes shown in the ICS. Using a split sample treatment, we investigate whether starting point effects are induced by the inclusion of ICSs depending on different combinations of cost and non-cost attribute levels. While a control group did not receive any ICS, treatment groups faced ICS based on a 2 × 2 design combining high or low prices with large or small environmental quality improvements. Using data from a CE on water quality changes, we test whether a starting point effect related to the design of the ICS exists, and whether effects differ in terms of the number of status quo choices and WTP estimates. The results indicate that the ICS designs do influence WTP without entailing strong learning effects. Therefore, inclusion of an ICS might cause ‘more harm than good’. If, however, an ICS inclusion is nonetheless judged to be beneficial, we recommend to design them carefully in a way that is in line with respondents’ common beliefs regarding attribute trade-offs.
Ökologisches Wirtschaften - Fachzeitschrift, 2014
Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 2015
ABSTRACT A recent innovation in stated preference environmental valuation surveys is to acknowled... more ABSTRACT A recent innovation in stated preference environmental valuation surveys is to acknowledge uncertainty associated with scientific predictions about ecological outcomes, complexity of management actions and potential difficulties in implementing environmental programs. Still little is known about how individuals assimilate and respond to outcome uncertainty, particularly in terms of how it affects their stated valuations. In this paper, we focus on the impact of individual risk preferences on willingness to pay for conservation of threatened species. Risk preferences are elicited through a standard incentivised multiple price list (MPL) and preferences for the conservation of the two main lynx populations in Poland through a discrete choice experiment (CE). To account for the uncertainty associated with imprecise scientific knowledge about environmental outcome, attributes in the CE are presented as conservation status in terms of descriptive, non-numerical categories. The results from the MPL and the CE are jointly analysed in a latent variable model by assuming that the responses to both are driven by the same preferences. We find that the latent risk preferences are linked to choices of the status quo option, which is the riskiest option in terms of the survival of the endangered lynx populations.
Ecological Economics, 2015
Available online xxxx JEL classification: Q51 D03 D81 Keywords: Risk preferences over financial a... more Available online xxxx JEL classification: Q51 D03 D81 Keywords: Risk preferences over financial and environmental domains Forest fires Loss aversion Probability weighting Prospect Theory
Fischereiliches Management in Angelvereinen dient unter anderem auch einer Erhöhung der Angelqual... more Fischereiliches Management in Angelvereinen dient unter anderem auch einer Erhöhung der Angelqualität und einer Erfüllung von Erwartungen, Wünschen und Bedürf-Riepe, C.; Beardmore, B.; Pagel, T.; Meyerhoff, J.; Arlinghaus, R.
Journal of Environmental Management
This study investigates individuals' preferences toward protection programs aimed at increasi... more This study investigates individuals' preferences toward protection programs aimed at increasing the chances of survival of the two distinct Eurasian lynx populations in Poland. Those two groups, the Lowland and the Carpathian population, are exposed to different risks of extinction as they have different numbers, different-sized areas of occupation and different migration possibilities. Using a discrete choice experiment we examine the influence of the initial degree of endangerment on the allocation of respondents' funds. The results show that people prefer to invest in the conservation of the lynx population, which has initially lower chances of survival. The main driver of respondents' choices seems to be loss aversion rather than the urge to invest in an option with an expected higher outcome. This observation can be interpreted as people trying to keep all the options - doors - open by devoting more funds to the more vulnerable population than to the more stable one...
Journal of Fish Biology
To answer the question, whether anglers have an intrinsic preference for stocking or a preference... more To answer the question, whether anglers have an intrinsic preference for stocking or a preference for catch outcomes (e.g. catch rates) believed to be maintained by stocking, a discrete choice experiment was conducted among a sample of anglers (n = 1335) in Lower Saxony, Germany. After controlling for catch aspects of the fishing experience, no significant influence of two stocking attributes (stocking frequency and composition of the catch in terms of wild v. hatchery fishes) on the utility gained from fishing was found for any of the freshwater species that were studied. It was concluded that the previously documented large appreciation of fish stocking by anglers may be indicative of an underlying preference for sufficiently high catches rather than reflect an intrinsic preference for stocking or the catching of wild fishes per se.
Journal of Forest Economics
Recreational use of inland waterways is becoming increasingly important for the development of to... more Recreational use of inland waterways is becoming increasingly important for the development of tourism in rural regions throughout Europe. The paper reports results from the application of a choice experiment asking recreational skippers for their WTP to pass faster through locks of inland waterways. During the summer holiday season in July and August recreational skippers in the Müritz area northeast of Berlin often have to wait several hours in front of locks. In order to reduce the queuing time the capacity of the locks could be increased. As it is open to debate whether such an investment program should be carried out and how it could be financed, recreational boaters were asked whether they are willing to pay a fee in exchange for passing through a lock faster. So far boaters do not have to pay for using the locks. Another point of interest was to determine for which locks this would be most beneficial. Accordingly, we used a spatial explicit choice experiment in which the attributes represent different sections of the waterways in question. The findings show that people are willing to pay for reduced queuing times within the holiday season. Implicit prices are the highest for the frequented central section and differ significantly from those prices estimated for the locks in tributaries and less frequented sections.
Journal of Choice Modelling, 2015
ABSTRACT Web surveys are becoming increasingly popular in survey research including stated prefer... more ABSTRACT Web surveys are becoming increasingly popular in survey research including stated preference surveys. Compared with face-to-face, telephone and mail surveys, web surveys may contain a different and new source of measurement error and bias: the type of device that respondents use to answer the survey questions. This is the first study that tests whether the use of mobile devices, tablets or smartphones, affects survey characteristics and stated preferences in a web-based choice experiment. The web survey on expanding renewable energy production in Germany was carried out with 3182 respondents, of which 12% used a mobile device. Propensity score matching is used to account for selection bias in the use of mobile devices for survey completion. We find that mobile device users spent more time than desktop/laptop users to answer the survey. Yet, desktop/laptop users and mobile device users do not differ in acquiescence tendency as an indicator of extreme response patterns. For mobile device users only, we find a negative correlation between screen size and interview length and a positive correlation between screen size and acquiescence tendency. In the choice experiment data, we do not find significant differences in the tendency to choose the status quo option and scale between both subsamples. However, some of the estimates of implicit prices differ, albeit not in a unidirectional fashion. Model results for mobile device users indicate a U-shaped relationship between error variance and screen size. Together, the results suggest that using mobile devices is not detrimental to survey quality.
Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 2012
ABSTRACT In the analysis of stated preferences studies, it is often assumed that protesting is a ... more ABSTRACT In the analysis of stated preferences studies, it is often assumed that protesting is a discretely measured item only occurring among those who are not willing to pay. However, various studies have recently shown that protest beliefs are as well held by respondents who state a positive willingness to pay (WTP). Using latent class (LC) models, we investigate the extent of heterogeneity with respect to protest beliefs among all respondents of two contingent valuation studies. The advantage of LC models is that classes of individuals are endogenously identified and no selection bias is introduced by ad hoc definitions of protesters. Further we investigate whether it is possible to identify a class of non-protesters. Finding a group of pure non-protesters could indicate how strongly stated WTP in the whole sample is affected by protest beliefs. For both samples, we find a class with strong protest beliefs but no pure non-protest class. Overall, our results suggest that LC models might not be the first choice to determine unbiased WTP measures, but they provide valuable insights into the degree of protesting expressed by different groups and corresponding determinants of group membership.
Economia Agraria y Recursos Naturales, 2014
Raumforschung und Raumordnung, 2003
The economic value of open space in urban areas An application of the contingent valuation to an ... more The economic value of open space in urban areas An application of the contingent valuation to an urban park in Berlin Green spaces have important values contributing to the quality of urban life. According to economic theory, these values should be assessed in monetary terms. This paper discusses the suitability of the contingent valuation in assessing urban green spaces benefits, and presents the main results of an empirical study conducted in Berlin. The study was designed to measure the visitors' willigness to pay for two programs to enhance the quality of an urban park.
Zeitschrift für Energiewirtschaft, 2009
Im Rahmen einer Online-Befragung zu den Präferenzen für die Ausgestaltung der Windkraftnut zung i... more Im Rahmen einer Online-Befragung zu den Präferenzen für die Ausgestaltung der Windkraftnut zung in Deutschland wurde das Wechselverhalten von Stromkunden ermittelt. Die Gründe für einen bisher nicht erfolgten Wechsel zu Anbietern von Öko strom wurden mit standardisierten Ant wortvorgaben und einer offenen Antwortoption erfragt. Die Ergebnisse aus diesem Teil der Umfra ge zeigen, dass unter anderem die Bewertung der Klimaschutzpolitik der Bundesregierung einen signifikanten Einfluss auf den Bezug von Ökostrom hat. Befragte, die diese Politik für über zogen halten, beziehen mit einer geringeren Wahrscheinlichkeit Ökostrom. Die Auswertung des Wechselverhaltens zeigt, dass über die Hälfte der Befragten Ökostrom nicht prinzipiell ablehnen, sondern Vorbehalte gegenüber Ökostrom vielmehr Ausdruck von unzureichenden Produktinfor mationen und mangelnder Wechselmotivation sind. Da die Stichprobe nicht reprä sentativ für Deutschland ist, können die Ergebnisse zwar nicht ohne weiteres verallgemeinert werden, deut lich wird aber dennoch, dass das Marktpotenzial von Ökostrom bislang offenbar nicht vollständig ausgeschöpft worden ist. Für Betreiber von Anlagen zur Erzeugung von Ökostrom und für die Vermarktung von Ökostrom-Lables ist die Identifizierung dieser Wechselhemmnisse von Bedeu tung, da ein hoher Anteil der Wechselhemmnisse durch geeignete Marketingmaßnahmen besei tigt werden könnte.
Nachhaltigkeit und Globalisierung, 1998
Nachhaltigkeit und Globalisierung, 1998
Nachhaltigkeit und Globalisierung, 1998
Handbook of Choice Modelling, 2014
ABSTRACT Choice modelling has been a fundamental component of environmental valuation within envi... more ABSTRACT Choice modelling has been a fundamental component of environmental valuation within environmental economics. Stated preference approaches to valuation have traditionally used contingent valuation methods, but are increasingly based on multi-attribute experimental designs (‘choice experiments’) to identify economic values of environmental quality changes. Similarly, revealed preferences on recreation choices or housing choices have been used to identify the value of environmental attributes. In contrast to choice modelling research in transportation and marketing, environmental economists rely on these methods to measure compensating or equivalent variation, or monetary measures of willingness to pay (WTP) or willingness to accept (WTA), for an environmental quality change. In this chapter we review the state of practice and examine research frontiers in the application of choice modelling to environmental valuation, and provide some comment on applications of choice modelling to other areas of natural resource and environmental economics. We begin with an examination of discrete-choice experiments as the most common application of choice modelling in environmental economics. Contingent valuation is one form of ‘discrete-choice experiment’ – using the terminology outlined by Carson and Louviere (2011), as are ‘choice experiments’ in which many attributes, including price, are manipulated using an experimental design. Various challenging issues continue to arise in the use of discrete-choice experiment stated preference methods in environmental valuation.
Uploads
Papers by Jürgen Meyerhoff