Choice Modelling and the Transfer of Environmental Values

Benefit transfer is the practice of estimating economic values at a target site by utilising the results of existing studies for different sites. It is commonly used to estimate values for changes in environmental conditions where time and cost factors constrain the direct application of non-market valuation techniques at the target site. The focus of this unique collection of case studies is the validity and accuracy of benefit transfer using choice modelling, rather than the traditional focus of transferring results from contingent valuation and travel cost models. The book includes a simple guide to using choice modelling results in a benefit transfer process, an overview of the theoretical issues involved, and a number of case studies from Australia, Finland, New Zealand, the UK and the US. The conclusion is that the benefit transfer process is not straightforward, but that use of the choice modelling technique allows for more 'automatic' adjustment of values by the factors that frame the case study of interest. This book will strongly appeal to a wide ranging readership, including academics, students and researchers involved in non-market valuation and benefit transfer research, policymakers requiring the use of benefit transfer in valuation studies, and consultants and researchers performing benefit transfer studies.

Table of Contents:
Contents: 1. Choice Modelling and the Transfer of Environmental Values Jeff Bennett 2. A Simple Guide to Choice Modelling and Benefit Transfer John Rolfe 3. Theoretical Issues in Using Choice Modelling Data for Benefit Transfer John Rolfe 4. Stated Preference Benefit Transfer Approaches for Estimating Passive Use Value of Wild Salmon John Loomis 5. Valuing New South Wales Rivers for Use in Benefit Transfer Mark Morrison and Jeff Bennett 6. Testing for Benefit Transfer Over Water Quality Benefits Nick Hanley, Robert E. Wright and Begona Alvarez-Farizo 7. Testing Benefit Transfer with Water Resources in Central Queensland, Australia John Rolfe, Adam Loch and Jeff Bennett 8. Transferring Mitigation Values for Small Streams Geoffrey N. Kerr and Basil M.H. Sharp 9. Transferring the Environmental Values of Wetlands Stuart M. Whitten and Jeff Bennett 10. Generalising Environmental Values: The Case of the National Land and Water Resources Audit in Australia Martin van Bueren and Jeff Bennett 11. Valuing Aboriginal Cultural Heritage across Different Population Groups John Rolfe and Jill Windle 12. The Significance of Policy Instruments in Benefit Transfer Paula Horne and Jeff Bennett Index