Albemarle-Pamlico Sounds revealed and stated preference data

Area of Science:

• Environmental Economics
• Ecological Valuation
• Water Resource Management

Background:

• The Albemarle-Pamlico Sounds region faces challenges in valuing water quality improvements.
• Existing methods for nonmarket valuation require robust behavioral data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the survey methodology for collecting recreation behavior and willingness to pay data.
• To provide data for estimating the economic value of water quality improvements.
• To facilitate research on nonmarket valuation techniques.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the contingent valuation and behavior methods scenario.
• Elicited revealed and stated preference recreation behavior data.
• Collected willingness to pay data for a split-sample scope test.

Main Results:

• The survey data enable joint estimation of revealed and stated preference recreation and willingness to pay.
• The data are suitable for investigating econometric specifications and bid design.
• The dataset has been used in prominent nonmarket valuation textbooks.

Conclusions:

• The 1995 Albemarle-Pamlico Sounds Survey provides valuable data for water quality valuation.
• The methodology and data support ongoing research in nonmarket valuation.
• The dataset is made available for further scientific inquiry.