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WTA-WTP disparity: The role of perceived realism of the valuation setting

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  • Frondel, Manuel
  • Sommer, Stephan
  • Tomberg, Lukas

Abstract

Based on a survey among more than 5,000 German households and a single-binary choice experiment in which we randomly split the respondents into two groups, this paper elicits both households' willingness to pay (WTP) for power supply security and their willingness to accept (WTA) compensations for a reduced security level. In accord with numerous empirical studies, we find that the mean WTA value substantially exceeds the mean WTP bid, in our empirical example by a factor of 3.56. Yet, the WTA-WTP ratio decreases to 2.35 among respondents who believe that the hypothetical valuation setting is likely to become true. Conversely, the WTA-WTP ratio increases to 3.81 among respondents who deem the setting unlikely. On the basis of these results, we conclude that inquiring about respondents' perception of the realism of the valuation setting is an easy-to-implement and promising survey element to mitigate excessive WTA-WTP disparities, particularly if private or quasi-public goods are under scrutiny.

Suggested Citation

  • Frondel, Manuel & Sommer, Stephan & Tomberg, Lukas, 2019. "WTA-WTP disparity: The role of perceived realism of the valuation setting," Ruhr Economic Papers 832, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:rwirep:832
    DOI: 10.4419/86788965
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    Cited by:

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    2. Saito, Hiroharu, 2022. "Loss aversion for the value of voting rights: WTA/WTP ratios for a ballot," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    3. Simora, Michael & Frondel, Manuel & Vance, Colin, 2020. "Do financial incentives increase the acceptance of power lines? Evidence from Germany," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    4. Bernadeta Gołębiowska, 2020. "Preferences for demand side management—a review of choice experiment studies," Working Papers 2020-05, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    willingness-to-pay; willingness-to-accept; stated preferences;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • Q41 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Demand and Supply; Prices

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