Beware of the Wolf: Is Animal Fear Affecting Willingness to Pay for Conservation of Large Carnivores?

CERE Working Paper No. 2010:9

19 Pages Posted: 12 May 2010

See all articles by Runar Brännlund

Runar Brännlund

Umeå University - Centre for Environmental and Resource Economics

Maria Johansson

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Jens Karlsson

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Magnus Sjöström

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: May 7, 2010

Abstract

From an interdisciplinary approach, this study aims at analysing self-reported animal fear, specifically large carnivore fear, in relation to public willingness to financially contribute to fulfill a governmental policy on large carnivore-induced costs. In a survey of 2,455 Swedes, it was found that people whose animal fear was directed particularly towards large carnivores, were less likely to be willing to pay (WTP), or were likely to be willing to pay a lower amount of money. In the prediction of WTP, the contribution of the fear variables was equally important as the socio-economic factors. From a management point of view it seems urgent to understand what kinds of measures that may reduce human fear of large carnivores. It is also suggested that further studies should include standardised measures of anxiety and fear in order to be able to closer link the results of large carnivore fear to the psychological literature on human fears.

Suggested Citation

Brännlund, Runar and Johansson, Maria and Karlsson, Jens and Sjöström, Magnus, Beware of the Wolf: Is Animal Fear Affecting Willingness to Pay for Conservation of Large Carnivores? (May 7, 2010). CERE Working Paper No. 2010:9, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1601847 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1601847

Runar Brännlund (Contact Author)

Umeå University - Centre for Environmental and Resource Economics ( email )

Umeå, S-901 87
Sweden

Maria Johansson

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

Jens Karlsson

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

Magnus Sjöström

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

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