Benefit Transfer: Conceptual Problems in Estimating Water Quality Benefits Using Existing Studies

Desvousges, William H. and Naughton, Michael C. and Parsons, George R. (1992): Benefit Transfer: Conceptual Problems in Estimating Water Quality Benefits Using Existing Studies. Published in: Water Resources Research , Vol. 28, No. 3 (March 1992): pp. 675-683.

Abstract

The Environmental Protection Agency has used existing studies to estimate the benefits of environmental improvements associated with several regulatory proposals The problems encountered in using existing studies to measure the benefits of water quality improvements are investigated in this paper. We propose criteria for selecting transfer studies and present a case study of a transfer. Our research indicates that although benefit transfer may offer promise, the fact that existing studies were not designed for transfer places severe limitations on the current effectiveness of transfer. Suggestions for future research are presented to address these limitations.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Benefits transfer, economics, nonmarket valuation
• Subjects: Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q2 - Renewable Resources and Conservation > Q26 - Recreational Aspects of Natural Resources; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q5 - Environmental Economics > Q51 - Valuation of Environmental Effects; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q2 - Renewable Resources and Conservation > Q25 - Water

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