Voter-Weighted Environmental Preferences

Abstract

This article examines the political economy of preferences with respect to the environment using a new stated preference survey that presents the first benefit values for national water quality levels. The mean valuation greatly exceeds the median value, as the distribution of valuations is highly skewed. The study couples the survey valuations with unique and extensive information on respondent voting patterns. Preferences of registered voters are similar to the preferences of the population at large, but median voters value water quality more than non-voters. The strongest contrast related to voter weighted preferences is among voters for different candidates, as those who voted for Gore in the 2000 presidential election have the highest environmental values.

Keywords: environment, water quality, stated preference, political economy, benefit-cost analysis

JEL Classification: H41, Q53, Q58