Contingent val. / Equity

[Michael KOSZ <mkosz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear PKTs,

working on several research projects concerning the monetary valuation
of public goods (esp. environmental goods) I am wondering if the method
of contingent valuation is able to meet the conditions of "equity" (intra-
and intergenerational equity as asked for in the sustainability litera-
ture). Respondents bid for each provision level of the public good in
question mainly according to their income, other socio-economic
characteristics etc. Using cost-benefit-analysis in this case would mean
that every citizen has another "weight" in the analysis - the "willing-
ness-to-pay" is therefore closely linked to the "ability-to-pay". This
may lead to the conclusion that cost-benefit-analysis is a kind of
"census" right to vote.

Unfortunately I am not used to the literature concerning these subjects
but I would be glad receiving tips for literature and researchers who
are working on this problem.

Thanks,


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                    Dr. Michael Kosz
     Inst of Public Finance & Infrastructure Policy
           Univ of Technology, Vienna/Austria
             E-Mail: mkosz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
              Tel. (+43) (1) 58801 ext. 4321
                  Fax  (+43) (1) 5042738
           Karlsgasse 11, 1040 Vienna / Austria

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