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Willingness to Pay and Compensation Demanded: Experimental Evidence of an Unexpected Disparity in Measures of Value

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  • Jack L. Knetsch
  • J. A. Sinden

Abstract

Aside from possible income effects, measures of the maximum amounts people will pay to avoid a loss and the minimum compensation necessary for them to accept it are generally assumed to be equivalent. Unexpectedly wide variations between these sums, however, have been noted in survey responses to hypothetical options. This paper reports the results of a series of experiments that confronted people with actual money payments and cash compensations. The results indicate that the compensation measure of value seems to exceed significantly the willingness to pay measure, which would appear to call into some question various rules of entitlement, damage assessments, and interpretations of indifference curves.

Suggested Citation

  • Jack L. Knetsch & J. A. Sinden, 1984. "Willingness to Pay and Compensation Demanded: Experimental Evidence of an Unexpected Disparity in Measures of Value," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 99(3), pages 507-521.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:qjecon:v:99:y:1984:i:3:p:507-521.
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Dwyer, John F. & Bowes, Michael D., 1978. "Concepts of Value for Marine Recreational Fishing," 1978 Annual Meeting, August 6-9, Blacksburg, Virginia 283660, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
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