Author
Meyer, Kevin
This paper applies a travel cost model combining revealed and stated preference data to estimate the recreational value of a disc golf course near New York City, where such facilities were limited at the time of the study. Using intercept survey data from Franklin D. Roosevelt and Heckscher State Parks, we estimate individual consumer surplus per trip with a fixed-effects Poisson regression. The survey collects travel costs and contingent behavior responses, capturing how trip frequency would change with reduced travel time. By combining revealed and stated preferences, we control for individual-specific factors influencing demand. Supplementary data from the UDisc scorekeeping app provides an estimate of total annual visits, allowing us to calculate aggregate consumer surplus. We estimate individual surplus at approximately $68 per trip and total annual surplus for the course at about $6 million. These results can inform policymakers considering the allocation of public land.
By Meyer, Kevin
This paper illustrates how to improve the immersiveness of an environmental valuation study using virtual reality (VR) headsets and real video footage. Recent research has used “virtual environments” to study this issue, but technological advances in VR headsets allow for a far greater degree of immersion. In this study, subjects were randomly shown either a VR video or static pictures of a polluted lake, before and after cleanup. They were then asked to indicate whether they would be willing to pay a random amount to improve lake water quality to the level shown. A discrete choice model is used to estimate and compare the willingness to pay for both groups. In this case study, there was no detectable effect on willingness to pay estimates. However, the technology may be beneficial for other valuation scenarios, particularly when the environmental change is complex or difficult for participants to evaluate.