Measuring Beachgoer Preferences for Avoiding Harmful Algal Blooms and Bacterial Warnings
This paper estimates beachgoers' preferences for beach quality attributes, including avoidance of current or previous harmful algal blooms (HABs) or bacterial warnings. Following a stratified random sampling schedule, data was collected via intercept interviews conducted at all 28 sandy public beaches from the Eastern Ohio border to Northern Lake St Clair. Randomly selected visitors were interviewed and sent a follow-up survey, which measured their preferences for beach attributes using a choice experiment. We find the average respondent is willing to drive over 200 miles to avoid sites with either HAB or bacterial warnings in place, as well as a negative lag effect that remains at least 6 days after warnings are lifted. While respondents are equally averse to currently active HAB and bacterial warnings, this aversion decreases at a slower rate after a bacterial warning is lifted. To test our findings' validity, we used the estimated parameters from the choice model to simulate responses to contingent behavior questions obtained in the follow-up survey. Although framed differently, the elicitation formats yield concordant findings. Our results indicate that cost-benefit analysis which does not account for the stigma effect of recently-lifted HAB and bacterial warnings may understate the costs of these events
Year of publication: |
[2022]
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Authors: | Boudreaux, Gregory ; Lupi, Frank ; Sohngen, Brent ; Xu, Alan |
Publisher: |
[S.l.] : SSRN |
Saved in:
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