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Social value is the difference between monetized social impacts and related economic investments. Stimulating positive social value is a leading concern and focus for sport event stakeholders. However, insights on this socioeconomic phenomenon have concentrated on social or economic mechanisms, not both, and are siloed to host city residents, largely overlooking nonhost city residents central to events. Thus, we integrated social and economic mechanisms to examine host city and nonhost city residents' mega sport event social value. Data from 1,880 Canadians revealed varying social values (Vancouver and Provincial = negative; Venue-City = neutral; National = positive). Applying a reverse contingent valuation method, findings confirmed the need to integrate (monetized) social and economic mechanisms to calculate social value. Testing an augmented social exchange theory model, findings highlight residents' perceptual ambivalence to social impacts and the importance of income to estimate social value. Stakeholders should effectively leverage events for social impacts and reconsider event public funding allocation policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Orange‐fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) is bio‐fortified with vitamin A precursors through breeding and is thus ideal for combating vitamin A deficiency (VAD). One of the potential mechanisms to promote the consumption of OFSP is to enhance its availability through processing into products with a longer shelf life and more desirable to consumers. However, very few farmers and agro‐processors practice value addition due to market uncertainties; there is little information on market availability for OFSP products. This study examined consumers' preference for OFSP puree chapati in rural and urban areas of Kenya, using the contingent valuation method. Data was collected from a random sample of 411 sweet potato consumers and a double‐bounded logit model was applied to analyze consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for OFSP puree chapati. RESULTS: Consumers were willing to pay a price of Kenya shillings (KES) 19 (USD 0.14) and 35 (USD 0.26) for OFSP puree chapati in Homa Bay and Nairobi counties, respectively. The presence of children under 5 years in a household, consumers' awareness of OFSP products and benefits of consuming OFSP, and level of education had a positive and significant influence on WTP for OFSP puree chapati in both regions. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that consumers exhibited a positive preference for OFSP puree chapati. In order to increase the consumption of OFSP and its value‐added products, it is important to promote consumer awareness of OFSP puree chapati and other such nutritious products through cooking demonstrations and other nudging approaches using attractive illustrations and social media platforms that engage mothers and care‐givers of children under 5 years old as well as the youth. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asian cities have promoted TOD to increase MRT use and decrease private vehicle use. A crucial factor in achieving this goal is improving the pedestrian environment, which can increase people's willingness to walk to MRT stations. This paper analyses how Asian cities have improved the pedestrian environment around MRT stations and the factors influencing walking willingness by reviewing literature and taking Taipei as the empirical area. The results demonstrated that reducing obstacles in pedestrian space, evening the pavement, using transparent window displays in stores along the pavement, and constructing rain shelters can increase people's willingness to walk. The simulations of improved environments can provide references for countries improving the pedestrian environment. The contribution and innovation are to point out the differences in the motivation and goals of TOD in Asian and Western cities and propose improvements to increase people's willingness to walk to achieve TOD's goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Households in the immediate vicinity of sand, stone and gravel river mining all receive negative externalities, but some of them also benefit from mining activities. Differences in the perceived effects between community groups affect their acceptance of negative externalities. This study decomposes the calculation of the mean willingness to accept (MWTA) negative externalities from river mining activities between two community groups in the Batang Anai River area in the Padang Pariaman Regency, Sumatra, Indonesia: (a) farmers and (b) individuals involved in mining activities. First, the logit model is used to determine the effect of household characteristics on the probability of the community declaring environmental degradation. Next, the dichotomous choice contingent valuation method (DC-CVM) is employed to estimate the residents' willingness to accept (WTA) the minimum value of compensation due to negative externalities from mining activities. We utilise four scenarios to prove the presence of bias if the decomposition is not taken into account in estimating the MWTA. According to estimation results, individuals who are engaged in mining have a 21% lower MWTA value than farmers. Meanwhile, indirectly affected communities who engage in mining have a MWTA value that is 32% lower than that of farmers. The implication of this study is that the decomposition of the MWTA by community groups is important to provide the real value of negative externalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to investigate a joint replenishment and preservation technology investment problem for non-instantaneous deteriorating items in which preservation technology investment affects not only the deterioration rate but also the length of the non-deterioration period. Regarding efforts towards delaying the deterioration process, the longer these items are kept in storage, the higher is the holding cost. Therefore, we consider the holding cost as a linearly increasing function of storage period. Along these lines, the retailer needs to balance the cost of investment in the preservation technology to reduce the deterioration rate and the increased total profit due to the decreased deterioration rate. This study discusses the scenario where the supplier offers the retailer the option to prepay a predefined percentage of the purchase cost if their order quantity exceeds or equals the minimum order quantity. Otherwise, the retailer takes a loan from a bank to prepay the entire purchasing cost. The main purpose of this study is to provide the best combined replenishment strategies and preservation technology investment under the abovementioned scenario by ensuring the maximum profit. A solution procedure is developed to determine the optimal solutions, and an algorithm is created by combining all theoretical results derived from the analytical study. Numerical examples are used to verify the theoretical results. Sensitivity analysis revealed some useful managerial insights. Results reveal that the retailer places orders under the conditions of a higher frequency with smaller order quantities to avoid excessive shortage costs when the holding cost is a linearly increasing function of the storage period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using an original contingent valuation, this study compares the Willingness-To-Pay (WTP) of households for three water pipes renewal programs focused respectively on water quality, reducing leaks in networks and preventing breaks. A survey was conducted in southwest France: respondents were asked to rank the different renewal programs and then state the maximum amount they would be willing to pay in order to benefit from each. Results of a Heckman model suggest that variables influencing the probability of refusing to pay for a non-economic reason and the WTP differ from one program to another, which validates this choice of model. WTP estimates are not of the same order of magnitude whatever the program, and remained relatively low when compared to the actual water bill. While asset management is often only seen as an activity calling for specialised technical knowledge, users are able to perceive the outcome of that management process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cervical cancer accounts for 10 percent of cancer deaths among women in India. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine can protect against infection but it is not included in India's universal immunisation programme. This study aimed to assess the demand and willingness to pay for the HPV vaccine among mothers of adolescent daughters. Methods: We conducted a contingent valuation exercise involving a hospital-based cross-sectional study to assess the demand for an HPV vaccine among mothers of adolescent daughters, their willingness to pay and its determinants. Participants were recruited at a tertiary care civil hospital in the city of Gurgaon in North India, and data was collected from December 2018 to February 2019. A questionnaire was administered to obtain demographic and awareness indicators. Payment cards were used to elicit the willingness to pay amount. Results: Out of 319 respondents, 79% were willing to pay for the vaccine. The mean maximum willingness to pay was INR 629 (USD 35), which was less than the vaccine market price of INR 2000–3000 (USD 117–175) per dose. Participant age and number of children significantly influenced demand, while family income and awareness of cervical cancer influenced willingness to pay for the HPV vaccine. Participants were willing to spend between 3% and 34% of their monthly income on the vaccine. Conclusions: High demand and low willingness to pay for the HPV vaccine indicate low value perception of the health outcome among mothers of adolescent children in India. A strategy aimed at a price reduction of the vaccine and increasing its demand through improved awareness is important. At the same time, subsidising the vaccine in the short run is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study provides essential evidence for developing HPV vaccination strategy for boys in China. • Both mothers and fathers showed high (>85 %) willingness to accept HPV vaccine for their sons. • Mothers more preferred specific HPV vaccine for sons, while fathers more showed no preference. • Parents mostly preferred domestic HPV vaccines for sons in assumed government subsidy scenarios. • Both mothers and fathers had similar willingness to pay HPV vaccine for sons and for themselves. Increasing countries are expanding the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to men, which has not yet been licensed in China. This study investigated the parental willingness to accept (WTA) and pay (WTP) HPV vaccine for their sons aged 9–14. In Shanghai, a metropolis area of China, parents with boys aged 9–14 were recruited to complete an online questionnaire using a convenience sampling strategy. Parental WTA were determined for parents themselves and for their sons. Parental preference of HPV vaccine was measured using discrete choice experiment in two assumed government subsidy scenarios that referred to HPV vaccination subsidy mechanisms for girls in China. Additionally, parental WTP was estimated using contingent valuation method. A total of 2493 parents with boys aged 9–14 were included in the study. Majority of mothers (88.99 % and 90.99 %) and fathers (79.57 % and 85.04 %) showed WTA HPV vaccine for themselves and sons, respectively. Parental gender, age, monthly household income, knowledge, and awareness were positively associated with parental WTA for their sons (each P < 0.05). Remarkably, more mothers showed specific preference of HPV vaccine for themselves (53.67 %) and sons (47.78 %), while more fathers showed no preference for themselves (46.76 %) and sons (53.81 %). In the two assumed government subsidy scenarios, parents mostly preferred domestic HPV vaccines for themselves and sons (each P < 0.05). Additionally, mothers had significantly higher WTP for sons (mean value, 2122.75 CNY) than fathers did (1695.40 CNY) (P < 0.001). However, parental WTP was similar between for themselves and for sons, regardless of mothers and fathers (each P > 0.05). Parents have high WTA and WTP HPV vaccine for boys aged 9–14 in Shanghai, which may provide evidence for preparing HPV vaccination strategy. Acceptance of HPV vaccines and roll-out in boys could be enhanced through the availability of government subsidy mechanism and domestic HPV vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on private grassroots music venues (GMVs) increased the difficulties in their business model, showing the vulnerability of their economic sustainability. This paper proposes ways to measure the economic value of GMVs in the city of Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil, seeking to highlight the important role of such venues and of public and private support for their maintenance. To this end, an online survey was applied to 180 GMVs goers and 188 non-goers, based on the contingent valuation method. The data shows GMVs play an important role within the musical ecosystem and generate positive externalities for the city. Both goers and non-goers tend to understand this importance and identify GMVs as businesses that generate cultural and economic value for the city, showing a non-use value of the good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the implementation of the population- and family history (FH) -based screening for BReast CAncer (BRCA) in Iran, a country where less than 10% of breast cancer cases are attributable to a gene mutation. Methods: This was an economic evaluation study. The Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) for genetic screening test strategies in Iranian women older than 30 was calculated. To this end, the monetary value of the test was estimated using the willingness-to-pay (WTP) approach using the contingent valuation method (CVM) by payment card. From a healthcare perspective, direct medical and non-medical costs were considered and a decision model for the strategies was developed to simulate the costs. A one-way sensitivity analysis assessed the robustness of the analysis. The data were analyzed using Excel 2010. Results: 660 women were included for estimating WTP and 2,176,919 women were considered in the costing model. The cost per genetic screening test for population- and FH-based strategies was $167 and $8, respectively. The monetary value of a genetic screening test was $20 and it was $27 for women with a family history or gene mutation in breast cancer. The BCR for population-based and FH-based screening strategies was 0.12 and 3.37, respectively. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the results. Conclusions: This study recommends the implementation of a FH-based strategy instead of a population-based genetic screening strategy in Iran, although a cascade genetic screening test strategy should be evaluated in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Road accidents remain a serious problem and directly affect drivers. Therefore, the perspectives of drivers are important in improving road safety. The objectives of this study are to empirically examine damage due to road accidents using the willingness-to-pay (WTP) approach and to analyze the factors that influence WTP at the driver and district levels. This study obtained data on WTP derived from car drivers across Thailand, which covers 96 districts. The value of statistical life was 824,344 USD per fatality (2,296 million USD annually). The results of Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling revealed a statistically important insight. At the driver level, the Health Belief Model and sociodemographic exert influence on the intention to pay. The demographic factor that has the greatest influence on perceived risk and leads to a high intention to pay is the working age group (γ = 0.826). However, when considering the HBM, perceived susceptibility (γ = 0.901) emerges as the most valuable factor influencing drivers' concerns about road accidents. On the other hand, district-level factors have a negative influence on the intention to pay for road safety measures. Among these factors, the law enforcement (γ = −0.555) practices implemented by local authorities have the most significant impact on drivers' perspectives and intentions regarding WTP. This finding can be used as a guideline for budget allocation and policy recommendation for policymakers in improving road safety according to the area contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique nature and environment of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta as well as its agricultural production and its traditional lifestyle are endangered by a rising sea level and increasing salinization of the ground and surface water. This paper aims at the assessment of Vietnamese people's information on and attitudes towards these problems as well as their respective convictions and beliefs. Imbedded in an online survey with 2000 completed interviews we also conducted a Contingent Valuation study with which we want to assess people's willingness to contribute personally and financially to saving the Mekong Delta as an indication of the benefits they would expect from such a project. We interviewed three different groups of respondents, one of which lives directly in the Mekong Delta, a second lives outside the Delta, but close to it, that is in Ho Chi Minh City, and the third group lives far away from the Delta in Hanoi. With these three subsamples of respondents we wanted to capture not only the use benefits but also the nonuse benefits accruing from such a project. In the course of the interviews, we found that the Mekong Delta is of great interest and importance to all interviewees, no matter in which part of Vietnam they live. They were mostly well informed on the problems there and had strong opinions on the causes of these problems as well as on suitable strategies to fight them. In our Contingent Valuation study, we assessed the willingness of people at the different study sites to contribute financially to a hypothetical project for the preservation of the Mekong Delta and the socio‐economic, attitudinal and psychological determinants of this willingness. Besides these empirical findings, we also obtained valuable insights regarding various methodological aspects of Contingent Valuation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of the study were (i) to determine amount of the vegetable losses and waste generated along the supply chain by production system such as under greenhouse and conventional system in open area, (ii) to explore the amount of willingness to pay for recycling vegetable losses and waste by composting and its determinants, (iii) to reveal the economic feasibility of composting vegetable losses and waste at district level and (iv) to calculate the individual and social cost of vegetable losses and waste along the supply chain by production system in Turkey. The farm level research data were collected from 81 conventional farms and 45 greenhouse farms in the Samsun province of Turkey by using questionnaires. In addition, 50 traders and 17 greengrocers, 13 supermarkets and 9 local marketers were interviewed. When quantifying vegetable losses and waste in mass, vegetable supply chain was examined in five different stages such as production, postharvest handling and storage, processing and packaging, distribution and retail. Contingent valuation method was used to asses willingness to pay of farmers, traders/merchants in wholesale market hall, greengrocer and super markets for composting of vegetable losses and waste. The economic feasibility of recycling of waste was revealed by using the net present value, cost-benefit analysis and internal rate of return. According to the research findings, the loss rates of vegetables produced per hectare in the greenhouse at the farm, wholesaler and retailer levels were respectively 2.2%; 1% and 20.3%. The loss rates of vegetables produced per hectare in the conventional farm at the farm, wholesaler and retailer levels were 3%, respectively; 0.9% and 16.8%. The individual loss of producers in the examined area was 0.67 thousand US $/year. The rates of individual loss of farms to annual agricultural income were 1.7% and 2.4% in greenhouse and conventional farms, respectively. Other individual losses in wholesales, retailer and consumers were 0.25, 4.89 and 1.02 thousand US $, respectively. The total social loss in the examined area was 6.83 thousand US $. When an assessment was made at the national level, the social loss was about 4% of the annual agricultural income. According to the research results, it has been concluded that depending on the amount of losses, the compost production facility to be established in the district can economically recycle vegetable losses and wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recreation values are necessary to inform a variety of planning and management decisions affecting national parks and other public lands. Standard visitor surveys often collect data that can facilitate estimation of such values through either revealed or stated preference approaches. However, several issues can arise when using such data, such as selection of the appropriate per mile rate to apply in travel cost models, limited variation in the number of trips taken to the site in the past year, and limitations in response formats for contingent valuation questions. To explore these issues, we use visitor survey data from Glacier National Park to estimate consumer surplus for a park visit, comparing mean estimates and percentile confidence intervals from several approaches. Exploring convergent validity across these approaches provides some support for the exclusion of depreciation costs when selecting a per mile travel cost rate and caution in using alternative dependent variable specifications in travel cost models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. This study assesses the monetary value of product quality information, specifically feedback from slaughter and production methods, within the Australian beef and sheep meat supply chains. Aims. The primary objective was to investigate the value assigned by supply chain actors to product quality information, measured as willingness to pay for receiving it or willingness to accept payment for providing it. The study also aimed to explore how the value of this information varies based on information quality and quantity. Methods. A contingent valuation approach was employed, utilising survey data from 104 producers. Logit models were used to identify the factors influencing meat producers' willingness to accept payment and willingness to pay. Key results. Over one-third of cattle and sheep producers expressed interest in receiving feedback from slaughter information and providing production methods information. Production methods information had the highest mean value at the premium information quality and quantity level, with values of AU$20.49/head in the beef industry and AU$10.13/head in the sheep industry. Conversely, feedback from slaughter information had the lowest mean value at the low information quality and quantity level, with values of AU$0.83/carcass in beef and AU$0.14/carcass in sheep. Farmers' experience and education level significantly influenced their willingness to accept payment and willingness to pay for product quality information. Conclusions. A significant proportion of producers within the Australian beef and sheep meat supply chains express a desire to provide or pay for product quality information. The value assigned to this information demonstrates a positive relationship with higher information quality and quantity. However, variations in expressed value of different information types, and the influence of farmer and farm characteristics, suggest the presence of chain failures that disrupt information valuation. Implications. These findings have important implications for improving the performance of the red meat supply chains. Understanding the factors that influence the valuation of product quality information allows stakeholders to develop targeted strategies to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of information exchange. This may involve addressing chain failures, and implementing measures to ensure consistent and accurate valuation of information. Ultimately, these improvements can contribute to enhanced decisionmaking processes and overall supply chain performance in the Australian beef and sheep meat industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper analyzes the role that the climate change concern (CCCi) has on the willingness to accept an environmental tax. The author aims to grasp how individual general tax preferences can differ with respect to the specific (environmental) tax. He focuses attention to the Italian case since it has been argued that the potential acceptability of a carbon tax in Italy is relatively high, and this topic has been scarcely explored so far among Italian citizens (Rotaris and Danielis, 2019). Design/methodology/approach: The author conducted an online survey among 514 Italian economics students. Findings: The CCCi positively influences the environmental tax morale (ETMi). The general tax morale (TMi) positively affects the specific (environmental) TMi. The CCCi alters individual tax preferences. The author evidenced that also subjects with low TMi turned out to be willing to pay an environmental tax if aware of the environmental issues. Research limitations/implications: Although the author used a common methodology in this strand of research, he is aware that in an online survey individuals can be influenced by the self-reporting and hypothetical choice bias (see Swamy et al., 2001), that in turn can characterize their reported preferences. Moreover, even if economics university students are commonly used as a subject pool in experimental economics settings, and although several studies showed that the behavioral responses of students are largely the same as those of nonstudents in identical experiments (for a discussion see Alm, 2012; Choo et al., 2016), there is awareness that in this case, they are not taxpayers yet (Barabas and Jerit, 2010). Practical implications: The author's results remark the importance of increasing climate change awareness among people to let them be more willing to pay the environmental tax, for instance through investments in sensibilization campaigns on the importance of energy source usage and climate-related topic. Then, an increase in the general TMi leads to an increase in the specific (environmental) TMi. The author's evidence showed that people with high tax morale logically recognize the positive impact of paying an environmental tax when the CCCi increases, since the more the theme becomes important, the larger the willingness to pay the specific tax. For this reason, policymakers should carry on campaigns to increase the general level of TMi to increase the overall tax compliance level and the relative tax revenues, following the guidelines given by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2019) to support taxpayer education programs, such as including TMi research and analysis into education programs, improving the ease of paying taxes or strengthening revenue–expenditure links to build the social contract. Social implications: It should be paramount to increase awareness about environmental topics among people in general and among those who are relatively tax immoral. The author's results remark on the importance of targeting energy and environmental tax policies to groups rather than to individuals. According to this evidence, we support the use of nonmonetary tools to nudge people in the environmental transition by changing their behavior in energy use, for instance through the taxation on fuel and other nonrenewable energy resources. Originality/value: It is the first empirical study that analyzes the impact of CCCi on the environmental TMi in Italy, in particular controlling for the role of the general willingness to pay taxes (TMi). To obtain individual attitudes toward tax payment, most of the empirical studies in behavioral economics employ international surveys. For studies across citizens living in European countries, the European Social Survey (ESS) and European Values Study (EVS) represent the most used ones (see, for instance, Martinez-Vazquez and Torgler (2009) in Spain; Torgler and Werner (2005) in Germany; Nemore and Morone (2019) in Italy). However, these surveys do not allow to study the relationship between the environmental and general TMi across the same subject pool. In fact, despite the ESS (2016) provides individual responses about the willingness to pay an environmental tax, it does not provide information about the general individual attitude toward tax payment (this information is contained only in the ESS wave of 2004, hence referring to a different subject pool). On the contrary, each wave of the EVS (i.e. 2008, 2017) provides information about the general individual attitude toward tax payment, but this survey does not provide a question regarding the willingness to pay an environmental tax. Therefore, to obtain information about the willingness to pay both general and environmental taxes, across the same subject pool, it is needed to carry out a survey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant challenge faced by the US Pacific Northwest pear industry is the limited availability of diverse pear cultivars beyond conventional selections. This scant availability of new pear options that align with consumers' consistent quality preferences falls short of their expectations and jeopardizes potential demand growth, which poses a threat to the industry's long-term economic viability. We use a combined approach of sensory evaluation and contingent valuation to uncover preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for specific pear cultivars, encompassing both novel and traditional types. The outcomes reveal that the key determinants driving WTP are taste and texture attributes. Particularly for early-season pears, a greater liking score for flavor, firmness, and juiciness corresponds to an elevated WTP. For late-season pears, the range of quality attributes expands to encompass overall appearance and sweetness, in addition to the aforementioned factors. Participants who use social media to access information about pears exhibit a heightened WTP. These findings provide valuable insights for the industry to consider revitalizing existing pear orchards through the incorporation of alternatives to conventional pear cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Seasonal influenza is a viral illness associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Objectives: This study aimed to assess preferences for utilizing the seasonal influenza vaccine. Methods: Based on a review of the literature and discussions among the research team, a 37-item survey was created, pretested, and completed by the lay public in Irbid city. The survey assessed knowledge, willingness-to)pay, and beliefs regarding the seasonal influenza vaccine. Participants' willingness-to-pay for the influenza vaccine was determined using contingent valuation with a payment card. Logistic regression analysis was employed to determine predictors associated with willingness-to-pay. Results: A total of 347 responses constituted the study sample. Respondents rated their knowledge about the influenza vaccine as good or excellent (62.5% of the total received responses). Approximately one-half (45.3%) of the respondents were willing to pay 5 JD for the influenza vaccine. It was found that standard of living, living location (city vs. village), and occupation (i.e., employment status) were independent predictors associated with higher willingness-to-pay for the influenza vaccine. Conclusion: The participants were willing to pay a price close to the market price, thus affording the vaccine. Such data can help healthcare decision-makers develop promotive policies to improve vaccine uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study investigates Iranian men's willingness to pay (WTP) for prostate cancer (PCa) screening and influencing factor, along with the impact of information. Method: We assessed preferences for prostate cancer screening in 771 Iranian men aged 40 and above using an internet-based questionnaire survey. Participants received basic and complementary information, and their willingness to pay was determined through a payment card approach. A Wilcoxon test assessed the impact of information. We also analyzed prostate cancer screening demand and employed Heckman's two-step model to evaluate factors influencing the willingness to pay. Additionally, reasons for unwillingness to pay were explored. Results: Willingness to pay significantly decreased with complementary information relative to basic information (16.3$ vs 17.8$). Heckman model, using WTP based on basic information shows age, education, and monthly household expenditure positively influenced the decision to pay. In contrast, health status, expectations of remaining life and prostate problems history positively affect amount of WTP for PCa screening, and insurance coverage has a negative impact on it. Majority of respondents (91%) supported PCa screening, with 82% expressing a willingness to pay. Common reasons for not paying include seeing screening as a public good (43%), financial constraints (35%), and having insurance (20%). The screening demand is price-sensitive. Conclusion: The basic mindset of Iranian men exaggerates the risk of prostate cancer. Reduced willingness to pay after receiving information reassures the reliability of their financial expectation. Taking into account the factors that influence PCa screening is essential for accurate planning and the successful implementation of this program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With stagnating funding for HIV and AIDS control programs in Nigeria, alternative funding models for antiretroviral therapy (ART) including out of pocket payment are being considered to sustain momentum epidemic control targets. We assessed willingness to pay for ART related services, and factors associated with willingness to pay. Methods: Between July and August 2019, we conducted a survey among people living with HIV (PLHIV) on ART in 3 states in southern Nigeria. Randomly sampled respondents on ART for at least 6 months, aged ≥ 18 years, able to communicate in English or pidgin English, and consenting to the survey were enrolled. Respondents were asked if they were willing to pay for clinical consultation, antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), viral load testing services and premium ART services (including fast track services). Respondents indicating willingness to pay for any of these services were asked the maximum amount they were willing to pay using contingent valuation methodology. We assessed the weighted proportions of PLHIV on ART willing to pay for ART and used survey-featured logistic regression measures to assess sociodemographic and ART related factors associated with willingness to pay for ART services. Results: Overall, 1,598 PLHIV with a mean age of 39.03 years (standard deviation [SD]: 11.23 years), were included in this analysis. Of these, 65.8% (1,079), 73.9% (1,192), 61.0% (995) and 33.6% (472) were willing to pay for ART consultation, ARVs, viral load testing services and premium ART services respectively. The median maximum amount PLHIV were willing to pay for clinical consultation and for ARVs was NGN1,000 (USD equivalent of $2.78; interquartile range [IQR]: 500–2,000) respectively, and NGN2,500 (USD equivalent of $6.94; IQR: NGN1,000–5,000) and NGN2,000 (USD equivalent of $5.56; IQR: NGN1,000–3,000) for viral load testing and premium ART services respectively. Receiving ART in Lagos state, being employed and having a monthly income of NGN100,000 or more was associated with willingness to pay for the various ART services. Conclusion: We found generally high-level of willingness to pay for ART consultation, ARVs and viral load testing services but low willingness to pay for premium ART services among PLHIV on ART. The maximum amount PLHIV were willing to pay for various ART services fell short of benchmarks for alternative funding but can potentially supplement ART by funding differentiated service delivery models that require nominal amounts to facilitate person-centered differentiated service delivery models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cultural heritage institutions are evaluated by combining objective and subjective value indicators that reveal their economic value and social impact. • Services linked to public goods are higher valuated than those closer to the market. • The most satisfied users are more likely to make a monetary contribution. • Results justify the function of libraries as providers of public goods and enhancing social wellbeing. • The set of public libraries in Medellín is taken as a case study, enlarging applications in developing countries. Evaluation of cultural heritage organisations and the returns on the resources they are provided with is becoming increasingly important, not only because of the economic efficiency implications but also vis-à-vis measuring their performance in terms of social policy and public governance. The present study seeks to estimate the social impact of libraries, as heritage representative institutions, from the case of the Medellin Public Library System (Spanish acronym – SBPM) in Colombia. This network of libraries is made up of 26 units that – in addition to traditional functions involving loans and custody – offer activities geared towards personal development and the enhancement of the community. The proposed method entails a combination of direct observation indicators together with other indirect or subjective indicators aimed at gauging social impact, applying two different yet complementary techniques; social return on investment (SROI), and contingent valuation (CV). The indicators obtained evidence different results when including subjective valuations in the calculations based on direct observations and financial returns, in line with the differences between the notions of price and value. Based on the findings to emerge, we show that public libraries are socially viable institutions and that they contribute towards the subjective well-being of their users, thereby legitimizing the public investment made to ensure their existence and functioning in the areas where they are located. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since the introduction of fee-for-service models in public hospitals and the legalization of private health services in Vietnam in 1989, the price of reproductive health services has risen. These changes have exacerbated inequities in accessing reproductive health services. This study examines potential disparities in willingness to pay for reproductive health services among adults in a rural district of Hanoi. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at 9 communes in Thanh Oai district, a rural district of Hanoi, Vietnam, in July 2019. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire to collect self-reported data. The contingent valuation was used to examine willingness to pay for reproductive health services with a starting price of 2 million VND (~ US$86.2, July 2019 exchange rate), which is the average price of all RHS in public facilities in Vietnam. Multiple Logistic regression and Multiple Interval regression models were used to identify factors associated with willingness to pay and the amount that people were willing to pay for reproductive health services. Results: Among 883 participants, this study found 59.1% of them willing to pay for reproductive health services at an average maximum amount of US$36.2, significantly less than the current average price of US$86.2. Occupation, number of sex partners, perception towards the necessity of reproductive health services, and prior use of reproductive health services were found to significantly influence willingness to pay for reproductive health services, while age, income level, gender, occupation, perception towards the necessity of reproductive health services and prior use of reproductive health services were reportedly correlated with the amount participants were willing to pay for reproductive health services. Conclusion: Lower willingness to pay for reproductive health services compared to the current prices (US$36.2 vs. US$86.2) is likely related to an overall low awareness of the necessity of reproductive health services, and future education campaigns should specifically target those from lower-income backgrounds. Financial subsidization should also be provided, especially for those from the low-income group, to ensure equitable access to reproductive health services. Given the heterogeneity of reproductive health services, further studies should examine the willingness to pay for each type of service independently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The City of Cape Town experienced a serious drought between 2016 and 2018 which led to severe water shortages and concerns for the environment. This study took advantage of a period of unprecedented levels of awareness about water security in order to investigate households' willingness to pay (WTP) for reliable water supply and their WTP to avoid environmental damages in securing this supply. Increasing the supply of water from dams and groundwater will ultimately impact on aquatic ecosystems, but alternatives are more expensive. We surveyed 248 households from 105 suburbs and used contingent valuation methods to investigate WTP for both secure and less damaging or 'greener' ways of supplying water. Depending on income level, households were willing to pay 63-127% more for their normal levels of consumption in order to have security of supply, and a further 35-68% more to ensure its environmental sustainability. Based on the relationship between WTP for 7 income categories, the overall WTP for secure water supply under nondrought conditions amounted to some 2.8 billion ZAR/year, which is about 90% higher than pre-drought revenues. Aggregate WTP for securing this supply using options that ensured the protection of the region's rivers and estuaries was 3.3 billion ZAR. These results have an important bearing on water investment and pricing decisions over the longer term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing population of the world, developments such as unplanned growth, urbanization, industrialization and accordingly climate change have necessitated the protection of natural resources. In this context, National Parks are the leading natural resources under protection. Since national parks are natural assets used for recreational and tourism purposes, they provide important contributions to the country's economy as well as the social benefit they provide to the society. Therefore, natural resources need to be included in the calculations of national income, which is a measure of the growth rate of countries, and economic value determination is needed for this. For this purpose, Beyşehir Lake National Park, which is the second largest national park, has been valued. Contingent Valuation Method and Travel Cost Method are used in the appraisal. During the data collection phase, 383 samples were determined using the Proportional Sampling Method, and the surveys were conducted with visitors within the national park in the summer of 2019. According to the Conditional Valuation Method, 186.838.123 TL was calculated, 453.612.000 TL according to the Travel Cost Method and the total economic value was determined as 640.450.123 TL. The consumer surplus per visitor, that is, the fee that a visitor is willing to pay for a visit to the national park in one year, was calculated as 2.202 TL. All findings obtained with a stake in the country's national income in light of the economic value of Turkey and the second largest national park was revealed the existing potential. Its economic value should be evaluated in development policies, and its existing potential should be presented to the social benefit of people by protecting it within the framework of environmental protection policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife especially large mammals such as elephants are an important part of an ecosystem providing various ecological functions and services, although they are often involved in human-wildlife conflict. The National Elephant Conservation Center (NECC) in the Pahang state of Peninsular Malaysia was established to ensure that the survival of the Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) in Peninsular Malaysia through direct management, as well as educational and public awareness activities. However, no entrance fee has been imposed since the establishment of the center in 1989 (32 years). This study aimed to determine public willingness to pay for an entrance fee in the NECC. By using the open-ended contingent valuation method (CVM), the mean public willingness to pay for an entrance fee in the NECC during the non-peak season amounted to RM4.65/person/visit whereas it was RM7.09/person/visit during the peak season. The study would serve as a reference for entrance fee implementation for a conservation center as a form of financial aid to sustain the center as well as highlight the importance of public engagement in elephant conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Understanding visitors’ willingness to pay (WTP) for natural ecosystems can assist policymakers in managing the environmental assets that form the foundation of nature-based tourism. To earn the highest economic return from limited budgetary resources, tourist-dependent destinations must identify sustainable sources of conservation funding and prioritize spending across ecosystems and initiatives. The purpose of this study is to assess the potential for visitor donations to serve as a source of conservation funding and investigate preferences and willingness to pay for multiple ecosystems concurrently, using data from a stated preference survey administered in Grenada, a small island state in the southern Caribbean that relies on nature-based tourism. Results from a discrete choice experiment and a contingent valuation exercise reveal a reluctance to donate to conservation initiatives by more than half of respondents. Visitors place the highest value on improvements to coral reefs, followed by rainforests, mangroves, and beaches. Average willingness to donate to a conservation trust fund ranged from US $8.00 to US $15.00, and from US $17.00 to US $52.00 for conservation plans targeting improvements to specific ecosystems. Few factors are found to be associated with willingness to pay. Scale heterogeneity may be a more significant source of variation than preference heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies show that the widely used mosquito control agent Bti has more negative effects on nature than previously expected. However, it is not yet clear whether people support a more nature-friendly mosquito control, as such an adaptation could potentially lead to higher nuisance. This study explores this question by assessing the willingness to pay for an adapted mosquito control strategy that reduces the use of Bti, while maintaining nuisance protection within settlements. For this purpose, a Contingent Valuation Study was conducted in the German Upper Rhine Valley. The results show that the majority of the surveyed population attaches a high value to a more nature-friendly mosquito control in terms of willingness to pay and is willing to accept a higher nuisance outside the villages. Policy makers should, thus, foster the development and implementation of such more nature-friendly mosquito control strategies to increase both environmental and societal benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among green energy technologies, solar power is a promising technology in the net-zero era of the power industry. Conventional solar modules have decreasing efficiency weaknesses as the temperature rises, whereas photovoltaic thermal (PVT) systems do not remove heat from the module or lower the temperature. However, the profitability of PVT systems has been underestimated. The profitability of new convergence products, such as PVT technology, entering the market for the first time allows for the evaluation of the appropriate starting price and policy requirements to support the product's market entrance. We used the contingent valuation method (CVM) to solve this problem. The survey derived the respondents' mean willingness to pay (WTP) and the total amount of social benefits. Among these CVM models, the one-and-one-half-bound (OOHB) spike model was used to distinguish zero WTP. Based on a survey of 300 households, respondents were willing to pay an additional yearly average income tax of KRW 10,608 (USD 7.90), and the total social benefit of PVT technology was calculated to be KRW 145 billion (USD 108 million). This result shows that individuals evaluate the value of PVT as 3.69% of their monthly electricity bill and 2.8% of their monthly gas bill. Several additional factors that influence WTP were analyzed, indicating a high possibility of PVT adoption by individuals who have replaced or are planning to replace photovoltaic (PV) modules. This study is significant because it examines the economic value of PVT and proposes a focus group for the effective market entry of new carbon neutrality products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Korea has been seeking to advance the hydrogen economy since 2019. Currently, gray hydrogen is being used primarily in mobility, but the Government plans to gradually switch to green hydrogen. Data on the public's stated preferences on this has been collected and analyzed with the contingent valuation technique. More specifically, a price premium for consuming 1 kg of green hydrogen over 1 kg of gray hydrogen is estimated when fueling a hydrogen vehicle. In order to gather the data, with a sample size of 1000, face-to-face interviews with household visits, a field survey by a professional survey company, and a closed-ended questioning method were adopted. For the analysis of this data, a one-and-one-half-bound model and a spike model that is capable of handling zero observations were jointly applied. The estimated price premium was statistically significant, reaching KRW 1,990 (USD 1.6) per kg, 22.6% of the fueling price of gray hydrogen KRW 8,800 (USD 6.9). Various implications of these results are discussed. For example, a subsidy of at least USD 2.4 per kg is required, given that the additional cost of producing green hydrogen instead of gray hydrogen is around USD 4.0 per kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences in willingness to pay for organic vegetables in urban and rural areas and their affecting factors in the city of Hamadan and surrounding rural areas. The data of this study were collected through a questionnaire and interviews with rural-urban consumers in the Hamadan County-Iran in 2019. To estimate the amount of WTP, contingent valuation method, Double-Bounded Dichotomous and One-and-One-Half-Bounded Dichotomous Choice approaches were used. The results of this study indicated that both in the urban area and in the surrounding rural areas, there is a potential market for organic vegetables, but urban residents showed higher willingness to pay than the people rural areas. Consumer awareness of the benefits of organic vegetables and the harms of inorganic products and also household monthly income had a positive and significant effect on the willingness to pay for organic vegetables in both urban and rural areas, and trust in labelling did not affect WTP. According to the results of this study, due to differences in the preferences of rural-urban consumers, these areas should not be considered as a homogeneous group in the development of organic food policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a notifiable viral disease in Malaysia, and is transmitted primarily among young children. Although vaccines for enteroviruses 71 (EV-71) were approved in China against HFMD, the availability and the acceptance of the vaccine in the Malaysia are unknown. This study investigated and ascertained the determinants of willingness-to-pay (WTP) for HFMD vaccination in Selangor Malaysia. This study adopted a cross-sectional, contingent valuation method involving 390 parents of young children aged six and below. The double bounded dichotomous choice (DBDC) approach was employed to assess the WTP for HFMD vaccine among respondents. A bivariate probit model was used to assess the key determinants of WTP for HFMD vaccine, while the mean WTP was measured using the Krinsky and Robb procedure. We found that 279 (71.5%) of parents were willing to pay for the HFMD vaccination. The estimated single bounded mean WTP was MYR460.23 (equivalent to US$ 102.17) for two doses of HFMD vaccination. The double bounded analysis revealed that the vaccine's price, poor education background and lower income were the key factors that significantly affected the WTP, with the estimated mean WTP being MYR394.00 (US$ 87.47). In conclusion, most Malaysian parents are willing to pay for the HFMD vaccination. The estimated WTP identifies the optimal price point for HFMD vaccination in Malaysia. Furthermore, the government should focus on an awareness programme for the HFMD vaccination among parents who have lower income or education level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the dust phenomenon has become one of the most important environmental challenges throughout the world, and one of its negative effects is on the agriculture sector. The aim of this research is first to determine dust emission sources in Alborz Province and then to estimate the willingness to pay (WTP) for reducing the effects of dust on the agriculture of dust emission sources and their surrounding areas. The Index of Land Susceptibility to Wind Erosion (ILSWE) was used to determine dust emission sources. ILSWE consisted of the combination of 5 effective factors in wind erosion, namely climate erosivity, soil erodibility, soil crust, vegetation cover, and surface roughness. In the next step, according to the produced map of dust emission sources, the affected rural districts were identified, and then using the contingent valuation method (CVM), individuals' WTP for preventing and reducing the negative impacts of the dust phenomenon on the agriculture was calculated by 400 questionnaires. According to the results, the classification map of ILSWE indicated that while classifying the areas in terms of their sensitivity to wind erosion 7.8% of the study area was placed in the very high sensitivity class. This class was considered the center of dust production, which was located chiefly in the southern parts of Alborz Province. Using the CVM method, the expected value rate and the WTP were calculated as 1654231 Rials (approximately $ 5.5). According to the population of the affected area, the total value of protecting the agricultural products against dust phenomenon is 27433766904 Rials ($91445.89) annually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citizens' attitudes towards and their perceptions of climate change are widely believed to influence citizens' actions related to climate change. Knowledge of these attitudes and willingness to pay (WTP) for environmental improvement can be useful in designing an environmental policy. Although citizens' attitudes and perceptions are likely to affect their WTP, they are rarely included in the non-market valuation. Furthermore, over time, attitudes and perceptions of environmental issues are likely to change. An understanding of temporal stability of attitudes towards climate change could shed the light on changes in citizens' WTP for environmental quality over time. This study examined changes in perceptions, attitudes, and actions towards climate change using two surveys in Queensland, Australia. The surveys were administered 10 years apart (2009 and 2018). The effect of attitudes over time on WTP was analysed using a contingent valuation (CV) method. The results confirmed that attitudes and perceptions of climate change were important factors affecting actions of respondents. Furthermore, over time, some attitudes and perceptions changed significantly. However, only some attitudes and perceptions were significant predictors of consumers' WTP for a change in environmental quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to analyze awareness and willingness to pay (WTP) for organic vegetables among households in Anambra State, Nigeria. Analysis of data was done using descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentages, and Contingent Valuation Method. One hundred and forty (140) respondents were utilized for the study but with a valid response rate of 85.7 percent to give one hundred and twenty (120) respondents sampled from the study area using multistage sampling procedure. Data used for the research was obtained with the aid of a well-structured questionnaire. The most commonly consumed vegetables were pumpkin (59.17%), garden egg (28.33%), cucumber (8.33%) and amaranth (4.17%). The respondents were aware (95.83%) of the health benefits of organic vegetables and also aware (71.7%) of environmental effects of using inorganic fertilizer for vegetable production. In the WTP for organic vegetables, it was observed that 21.7% of the respondents were not WTP for organic garden egg, while 78.3% of the respondents were WTP a premium for a kg of organic garden egg. About 8.3% of the respondents were not WTP for organic pumpkin while 91.7% of them were WTP a premium for organic pumpkin. The analysis showed that in households WTP for organic garden egg, factors such as age, health, education, and awareness were significant, while WTP an amount was also significantly influenced by the same set of variables. Also, while willingness to pay for organic pumpkin was significantly influenced by health, education and awareness, WTP an amount was significantly influenced by health, education and awareness. There is need for public awareness by the media and organic Non-Government Organizations to create more programmes that will educate consumers on the health and environmental advantages of organic farming and consumption patterns over conventional practices. With this, more consumers will be willing to pay a premium for organic vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a time when artificial intelligence technologies, such as ChatGPT, are becoming a fundamental concept of the Semantic Web development, libraries face serious challenges of how to prove their value in the global information market, not only in the abstract, philosophical but also in the economic sense. This question is especially related to special libraries - information services that have to prove their contribution to accomplishing the goals of their parent organization and whose results represent groundwork for development plans and strategic decisions. This essay will show the evaluation of activities performed by special libraries in the historical context not only as a factor of development but also as a factor of persistence in the national library and information system. The paper presents how the two most important methods, Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) and Return On Investment (ROI), are applied in the evaluation of the success of special libraries, with examples of calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Space heating is a necessity in Alaska; however, the use of heating fuels carries both economic and environmental costs. In the Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB), Alaska, most households utilize heating fuel oil as a primary source for home heating and firewood as a secondary source. In the FNSB, wood-burning devices are the principal source of fine particulate matter with a size of 2.5 microns or less, (PM2.5), but firewood is less expensive when compared to heating fuel oil. The FNSB has been designated as a nonattainment area for PM2.5, which has been linked to negative cardiopulmonary impacts and other adverse health consequences. Electric thermal storage heaters (ETSH) could help solve the PM2.5 problem by displacing firewood used for residential space heating. We use dichotomous choice contingent valuation (DC-CV) to estimate willingness to pay (WTP) for an ETSH program which would allow FNSB residents to offset 100 gallons of heating fuel oil annually. Certainty correction is used to control for the presence of hypothetical bias. We find median WTP is USD 33.98 without certainty correction and USD 9.75 with certainty correction. Our results indicate that implementation of a special ETSH electricity rate based on the WTP estimate may lead to broader adoption of ETSH for space heating, which could improve air quality, reduce fuel poverty, and reduce the carbon footprint of residential space heating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: About 5–10% of breast cancer cases are attributed to a gene mutation. To perform preventive interventions for women with a gene mutation, genetic screening BRCA tests have recently been implemented in Iran. The present study aimed to determine Iranian women's subjective valuation for screening BRCA tests for early detection of breast cancer to help policymakers to make decisions about genetic screening tests for breast cancer and to know the applicants. Methods: An online survey was completed by women older than 30 years old in Tehran, the capital of Iran in 2021. A hypothetical scenario about genetic screening tests for breast cancer was defined. The subjective valuation for the tests was assessed by a willingness to pay (WTP) using the contingent valuation method (CVM) by payment card. Demographics, history of breast cancers, knowledge, and physiological variables were considered as independent variables, and a logistic regression model assessed the relationship between WTP and the variables. Results: 660 women were included. 88% of participants intended to participate in BRCA genetic screening for breast cancer if it were free. The mean WTP for the tests was about $ 20. Based on the logistic regression, income, family history of breast or ovarian cancer, and positive attitude were associated with WTP. Conclusions: Iranian women were willing to intend for genetic screening BRCA tests and pay for them as well. The result of the present study is of great importance for policy makers when it comes to funding and determining co-payments for BRCA genetic screening tests. To achieve a high participation rate of women in breast cancer screening plans, a positive attitude should be promoted as a psychological factor. Educational and informative programs can help. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Informal care can reduce hospitalization frequency and time, elevate bed turnover, and increase the health systems' capacity. This type of care has shown meaningful value in managing many cases through the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aimed to identify determinants of monetary valuation of informal care and the burden of this care on the COVID-19 patients' caregivers. Methods: Through a cross-sectional phone survey from June to September 2021 in Sanandaj city, the west of Iran, COVID-19 patients and their caregivers (Each Group No. 425) were separately interviewed. A simple probabilistic sampling method was applied. Two questionnaires were developed and used after validation. Monetary valuation of informal caregivers was done using Willingness to pay (WTP) and willingness to accept (WTA). Double hurdle regressions were used to determine related variables to WTP/WTA. R software was used for the data analysis. Results: The total mean (Standard Deviation) of WTP and WTA were $12.02(28.73), $10.30(15.43) USD. Most respondents put a zero value on informal care by WTA (243(57.18%) and WTP [263 (61.88%)]. Caregivers' Employment, and being spouse/child of the care recipient increased the probability of reporting a positive value for WTP (p-value < 0.0001, p-value = 0.011 respectively) and WTA (p-value = 0.004, p-value < 0.0001 respectively). An increase in the number of caring days decreased the probability of reporting positive WTA (p-value = 0.001) and increased the mean of lnWTP (p-value = 0.044). Perceived difficulty in doing indoor activities and perceived difficulty in doing outdoor activities decreased lnWTA mean (p-value = 0.002) and lnWTP mean (p-value = 0.043) respectively. Conclusions: Increasing caregivers' self-efficacy and facilitating their involvement in the caring process could be facilitated through flexible work status, educational programs, and interventions on decreasing their burnout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The northern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus) is a charismatic insectivore mammal threatened by habitat loss, the use of biocides, and collisions with vehicles. We aimed at valorizing hedgehog conservation through the contingent valuation method for estimating the proportion and the amount of willingness to pay (WTP) and the effects of cognitions and sociodemographic characteristics on WTP. We collected data through interviews with 704 residents of four administrative regions of northern Greece. Binary logistic regression and Welsh–Poe interval regression were used for estimating the effects of predictors on the proportion and mean WTP, respectively. Most participants (58.2%) were WTP a mean of EUR 31.7 for hedgehog conservation, totaling EUR 21.9 million annually when projected to the population. Positive attitudes, mutualism wildlife orientations, intention to participate in hedgehog conservation actions, and participation in consumptive and non-consumptive wildlife-related recreational activities increased WTP. Highly educated females, with high income and a pet were more WTP than less educated males, with low income and without a pet. Findings provided necessary information to managers about the value of hedgehog conservation, the potential for raising required funds and the differences in WTP among and within public groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cerro Mohinora Protected Natural Area (PNA) located in Guadalupe y Calvo, Chihuahua, Mexico has ecosystems in a good state of conservation that include trees of genera such as Picea, Abies and Pseudotsuga. The objective was to determine the willingness to pay (WTP) by the visitors through the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) in order to conserve the environmental services (SA) provided by the area and to know their perception of the current state of the Hill. 210 surveys were carried out to simulate a hypothetical market, where they asked what is the maximum amount they would be willing to pay to preserve and/or improve the SA of the PNA. The main results show that 90.48% of the visitors gave a positive WTP, 48.57% of the visitors are local and 55.24% have a university degree. 60.48% of the visitors do ecotourism on the Hill. The main suggestion to improve the area was the maintenance of the roads (55.00%) and the provision of more environmental education (32.69%). The only variable that influenced a positive WTP and that was statistically significant was the "Perception of good ecosystem quality (PGEQ)". The average WTP calculated was 90.48 MXN, with a minimum and maximum of 68.12 MXN and 97.60 MXN, respectively, and a standard deviation of 5.55 MXN. The WTP should be established according to the number of visitors and use of the place, considering that it currently has no cost and that most visitors are willing to pay to enter and show concern for conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Criminal justice policy decisions are increasingly being influenced by the ratio of the monetary benefits to the monetary costs. While policies based on evidence and analysed via cost‐benefit studies are a welcome development, cost‐benefit calculations are only as robust as the data upon which they are based. For England and Wales up to the present, cost‐of‐crime estimates used in cost‐benefit analyses have been calculated by the Home Office using a multi‐method approach. However, the intangible costs of crime have not been estimated adequately in England and Wales. Aim: The main aim was to quantify the intangible costs of crime using the willingness‐to‐pay (WTP) method. Also, stated preferences for different crime reduction methods were investigated. Method: This study utilises samples from the City of Cambridge (n = 534) and from Criminal Justice Practitioners (n = 124), to assess their WTP to prevent a range of crimes from happening in their neighbourhood, and their preferred crime reduction techniques. A Contingent Valuation Survey (CVS) was used. Results: Overall, both samples gave a higher WTP for low volume, high harm crimes than for high volume, low harm crimes. Both samples supported funding youth programmes in preference to other forms of crime reduction initiatives. Conclusion: It is proposed that a CVS should be included in the next Crime Survey for England and Wales, in order to collect relevant WTP data on crime at the national level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oocytes can be effectively cryopreserved and stored for future use in in-vitro fertilisation. Oocyte cryopreservation (OC) can therefore mitigate different threats to female fertility, but attitudes and policies often seem more favourable in medical rather than age-related fertility preservation scenarios. The value of OC for potential candidates may be perceived differently depending on the indications, although relevant empirical data are lacking. An adequately powered sample of Swedish female university students (n = 270; median age 25; range 19–35) were randomly delivered a medical (n = 130) or age-related (n = 140) fertility preservation scenario within an online survey. Sociodemographic factors, reproductive experiences, and awareness about OC were not significantly different between the groups. Differences in four outcomes were studied: proportions of respondents (1) positive to the use of OC, (2) positive to public funding for OC, or (3) open to considering OC; and (4) willingness-to-pay (WTP) for OC, measured in thousand Swedish krona (K SEK) through contingent valuation. There were no significant differences in the proportions of respondents positive to the use of OC (medical: 96%; age-related: 93%) or open to consider it (medical: 90%; age-related: 88%) in each scenario. However, public funding had significantly greater support in the medical scenario (85%) than in the age-related one (64%). The median WTP (45 K SEK ≈ 4.15 K EUR) approximated the current Swedish market price for a single elective cycle and was not significantly different between the scenarios (Cliff's delta − 0.009; 95%CI − 0.146, 0.128). These findings suggest that it may be inappropriate to justify counselling and priority policies only on the assumption that fertility preservation with OC for medical indications is more beneficial to women than when the same technique is used for age-related reasons. However, it would be interesting to investigate further why public funding appears more debatable than the treatment itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at a series of hot issues and topics, such as resource waste, environmental pollution, and Mollisol protection, related to the arbitrary discharge of livestock and poultry feces, livestock and poultry feces are taken as the research object, a questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate residents' cognition and willingness to pay (WTP) for the nonmarket value of livestock and poultry feces returning to farmland in Heilongjiang Province, China. The contingent valuation method (CVM) was used for the correlation analysis of WTP and socioeconomic characteristics, and correlation analysis of payment mode and socioeconomic characteristics. Meanwhile, the factors influencing WTP and payment mode were analyzed. The results show that the majority of the respondents are aware of the harmfulness of the arbitrary discharge of livestock and poultry feces and the importance of its nonmarket regeneration value. Approximately 90.09% of respondents were willing to pay for the return of livestock and poultry feces to fields. In 2020, the total value of WTP of livestock and poultry feces returning to farmland in Heilongjiang Province was 4.65 billion CNY, equivalent to 1.32% of the total agricultural production of Heilongjiang Province in the same year. And the nonmarket value of livestock and poultry feces is estimated to be 1456.69 CNY/t. The annual average WTP of rural and urban households is 286.42 CNY and 422.90 CNY per household, accounting for 0.46% and 0.52% of the average annual income of households, respectively. Therefore, the return of livestock and poultry feces to farmland utilization has a high nonmarket value. The analysis shows that the average annual household income is a significant factor in WTP, and the registered permanent residence type and the average annual household income are significant factors in payment mode. The research results should provide a scientific and theoretical basis for the government's policy and decision-making on the return of livestock and poultry feces to farmland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 200 million people, mainly concentrated in rural areas of the Great East African Rift Valley, suffer from fluorosis caused by excess of fluoride naturally contained in water. This study employs the RANAS (Risk, Attitude, Norm, Ability, Self-regulation) model to understand how behavioural factors influence Tanzanian rural communities' willingness to pay for fluoride-free water obtained from a new defluoridator device. Results show that perceived risk, knowledge, attitudes and descriptive norms significantly influence the adoption of the proposed healthy behaviour. Policy implications are discussed taking into account how rural communities could achieve equitable and affordable access to safe water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to conduct a cost–benefit analysis of orientation and mobility (O&M) programs from three perspectives: the general public, the experienced, and the potential users of O&M programs. Willingness-to-pay (WTP) for O&M programs was collected via a contingent valuation survey using a double-bound dichotomous choice approach. WTP was estimated using interval regression analyses, accounting for study arm, sex, occupation, income, and self-rated health. The cost data were estimated from a service provider's perspective. The net present value (NPV), variation if delivered by tele-O&M, was investigated. The adjusted mean NPV of O&M programs was $3857 (95% CI: $3760–$3954) per client, with highest NPV from the general public ($4289, 95% CI: $4185–$4392), followed by the experienced users ($3158, 95% CI: $2897–$3419) and the potential users ($2867, 95% CI: $2680–$3054). The NPV reached break-even for tele-O&M. There was strong community support for investment into O&M programs considering benefits for clients over and above the cost of providing the services. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using cost–benefit analysis with a contingent valuation approach to economically assess a rehabilitation intervention, where its multi-dimensional benefits cannot be fully captured by a conventional appraisal technique such as cost-effectiveness analysis. The high willingness-to-pay (WTP) values amongst the general public suggests that Australians perceive government's investment in orientation and mobility (O&M) rehabilitation as value for money and that individuals would be prepared to contribute to its costs. The lower WTP for O&M partially delivered via tele-practice (tele-O&M) indicates a lower acceptance of this innovation in comparison with the traditional face-to-face O&M. The estimated net present values of O&M programs, positive for traditional O&M and break-even for tele-O&M, can be of assistance to service planning and investment decisions within the Australian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study on farmers' willingness to pay for degradable agricultural film and its influencing factors is conducive to the promotion and application of green agricultural production technology and the promotion of green transformation of agricultural development. Based on the survey data of 339 farmers in Shaanxi province, the willingness to pay and the amount of payment of different types of farmers for degradable agricultural film were calculated through contingent valuation method (CVM), and the binary Logistic regression and Tobit models were constructed to explore the influencing factors of farmers' differentiated willingness to pay and the amount of payment. The results show that ① most of the interviewed farmers have a willingness to pay for degradable agricultural film, and the part-time farmers have a stronger willingness to pay and a higher amount of payment; ② the education level of farmers has a significant positive impact on the willingness to pay for degradable agricultural film; ③ social impact, technology availability and technology ease of use all positively and significantly affect farmers' willingness to pay and amount of payment for degradable agricultural film; ④ different types of farmers have different factors affecting the willingness to pay and amount of payment for degradable agricultural film. In general, in the process of promoting green agricultural development, it is urgent to formulate differentiated technology response incentive policies, strengthen technical training and guidance for farmers, increase subsidies for technology application, and establish a long-term dynamic incentive mechanism for farmers' response to green production technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study sought to examine the willingness of rural and peri-urban communities in northern Ghana to pay for urban water services extended to them, without differentiated tariff determination to suit their socio-economic status as low-income households. Using a contingent valuation method and statistical simulation models, results showed that price per unit of water, income levels and service quality were significantly related to willingness to pay. However, despite stakeholder activities to improve water tariff payment, the process does not consider the views of the local people. Also peri-urban and rural communities connected to urban water systems owed more tariff arrears due to poverty, which negatively impacts on access to water. Alternative approaches such as tariff differentiation and extension of participatory interventions for poverty reduction schemes have been recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economic value of wild animals is key to conservation biology, and is also the important basis for protection management strategies and eco-compensation. The contingent valuation method (CVM) and simple random sampling were used to investigate the willingness to pay (WTP) of urban residents in Jingdong county, and to evaluate the non-use value of the Nomascus nasutus. Results showed that 85.52% of the respondents believed that the species should be protected, and 86.43% of the respondents were willing to pay a certain fee to protect the species. The median value method and the average value method showed that the WTP of the urban residents was 51.86-54.04 yuan·a-1, and the non-use value of the Nomascus nasutus was further calculated as 42.187-43.960 billion yuan·a-1. Logit and Probit models showed that, willingness to pay was significantly positively correlated with education background, personal income, and understanding of Nomascus nasutus (P<0.05), significantly negatively correlated with age (P<0.05), and not relevant with gender and ethnicity (P>0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • It firstly investigates the WTH and WTP of polluted area, urban and rural residents for WMPs. • Only 9.4% respondents are satisfied with current government's management. • Demographic variables, cognition and attitude are important factors on WTH and WTP. • Residents' WTH and WTP in e-waste polluted area are higher. • If owning higher WTH, the residents will trend to higher WTP. Currently, China has the largest generation volume of waste mobile phones (WMPs), but the recycling rate is still negligible. How to improve the willingness to hand (WTH) over to formal recycling channels and willingness to pay (WTP) have become the most core problems in the e-waste recycling industry. As the important link between WMPs generation and collection, the residents' role and function are attracting more and more attention. Thus, this study is designed to identify the determinants of the residents' WTH and WTP for WMPs through the contingent valuation method (CVM). At the same time, it will explore the current existing gaps from the urban and rural residents. Especially, this study also considers Guiyu Town as one special rural region for understanding the differences with other regions. The results show that the respondents generally have the relatively lower knowledge and cognition on WMPs recycling. Only 9.4% respondents are satisfied with the current government's management of WMPs. Personal information leakage is an important reason for low WTH. The WTH of Guiyu, urban and rural respondents were 51.3%, 45.9% and 41.2%, respectively; while their WTP were 46.80%, 31.70% and 37.80%, respectively. Finally, it is estimated that their WTP values were 18.75 ($2.81), 16.14 ($2.42) and 15.85 ($2.38) RMB per unit, respectively. The demographic variables, cognition and attitude are important factors on all residents' WTH and WTP. Meanwhile, it is indicated that if owning higher WTH, the residents will trend to higher WTP. Especially, the WTH and WTP of Guiyu residents are higher than other residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Balkan chamois is an agile mammal of the rocky mountain slopes of the Balkan peninsula. In Greece, its southernmost limit, it exists in six population groups. Illegal hunting and the isolation of populations are the major threats to the species. Therefore, conservation actions, such as the control of illegal hunting and the creation of wildlife corridors are required for securing viable populations. We used an econometric model to estimate the willingness to pay (WTP) for chamois conservation. People from the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace participated in our survey. We asked them if they were WTP an annual tax for the next five years for implementing conservation actions for the chamois. Most of the surveyed people stated a considerable WTP that could yield adequate resources for funding relevant conservation actions. We also examined the effects of several factors on WTP. We found that increasing the knowledge about and improving the attitudes toward the species, targeting groups, such as males, those less educated, and who have not seen the species in the wild, through suitable education and outreach programs would increase public support and WTP for the species. Our findings would help successfully implement conservation plans for the chamois. The Balkan chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica) is a caprine of the rocky mountain slopes, threatened in Greece by illegal hunting and population isolation. We used a contingent valuation method to assess the willingness to pay (WTP) for chamois conservation of 500 residents of the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. Most of the participants (61.6%) were WTP a mean of EUR 41.6 for chamois conservation, totaling EUR 6.03 million for the target population. Attitudes toward and knowledge about chamois, moralistic worldviews (spiritual reverence and ethical concern for nature and wildlife), participation in wildlife-related consumptive outdoor activities (i.e., hunting and fishing), intention to participate in conservation actions for the species, and encounters with the species in the wild were positively associated with WTP for its conservation. Dominionistic worldviews (humans have mastery, physical control, and dominance of wildlife) were negatively associated with WTP, while highly educated females with high income were more WTP for implementing relevant conservation actions. Factors involving previous knowledge of the chamois positively influenced the WTP, thus, confirming the construct's bias toward charismatic species. The findings show that Greek residents highly value the chamois and its conservation and would be useful for advising this process and achieving its conservation management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]