Estimating the economic benefits of reduced health damages due to improvements in environmental quality continues to challenge economists. We review welfare measures associated with reduced wildfire smoke exposure, and a unique dataset from California’s Station Fire of 2009 allows for a comparison of cost of illness (COI) estimates with willingness to pay (WTP) measures. The WTP for one less symptom day is estimated to be $87 and $95, using the defensive behavior and contingent valuation methods, respectively. These WTP estimates are not statistically different but do differ from a $3 traditional daily COI estimate and $17 comprehensive daily COI estimate.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2013 |
|---|---|
| Title | Valuing morbidity from wildfire smoke exposure: a comparison of revealed and stated preference techniques |
| Authors | Leslie Richardson, John B. Loomis, Patricia A. Champ |
| Publication Type | Article |
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Series Title | Land Economics |
| Index ID | 70118043 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |