Valuing the Environment

Abstract

To determine the amount of environmental goods and services to provide or preserve, it is necessary to weigh society’s degree of preference for the environment vis-à-vis other goods and services. This value measure serves to inform the decision-making and policy-making process and thereby justify the allocation of limited resources between competing uses. This paper provides an overview of economic valuation methods for environmental goods, with examples of real-world applications. Valuation methods include both demand and non-demand curve approaches, including the dose-response method, contingent valuation method, and hedonic pricing. The paper further discusses the damage schedules approach and benefits transfer in cases where conventional valuation methods are less suitable.