Why economic valuation does not value the environment: climate policy as collective endeavour

Bardsley, N., Ceddia, M. G., McCloy, R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2333-9640 and Pfuderer, S. (2021) Why economic valuation does not value the environment: climate policy as collective endeavour. Environmental Values. ISSN 1752-7015 doi: 10.3197/096327121X16081160834740

Abstract/Summary

Economics takes an individualistic approach to human behaviour. This is reflected in the use of “contingent valuation” surveys to conduct cost benefit analysis for economic policy evaluation. An individual’s valuation of a policy is assumed to be unaffected by the burdens it places on others. We report a survey experiment to test this supposition in the context of climate change policy. Willingness to pay for climate change mitigation was higher when richer individuals were to bear higher costs than when, as is usual, no explicit information was provided about cost distribution. This result is inconsistent with the usual interpretation of contingent valuation data. It also suggests that the data may be biased indicators of policy acceptance. Additional survey questions suggest that a collective mode of reasoning is common.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/91985
Identification Number/DOI	10.3197/096327121X16081160834740
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Department of Psychology Life Sciences > School of Agriculture, Policy and Development > Department of Agri-Food Economics & Marketing
Publisher	White Horse Press
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