"Researchers are increasingly considering benefit transfer approaches that allow welfare measures to be adjusted for characteristics of the policy context. The validity and reliability of such adjustments, however, depends on the presence of systematic variation in underlying WTP. This paper describes a meta-analysis conducted to identify systematic components of WTP for aquatic resource improvements. Model results reveal systematic patterns in WTP unapparent from stated preference models considered in isolation, and suggest that observable attributes account for a substantial proportion of the variance in WTP estimates across studies. The analysis also exposes challenges faced in development, estimation, and interpretation of meta-models for benefit transfer and welfare guidance. These challenges remain salient even in cases where the statistical performance of meta-models is satisfactory." Copyright 2005 Canadian Agricultural Economics Society.

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[1] This paper describes a meta-analysis conducted to estimate relationships between the nonuse components of WTP for surface water quality improvements and a combination of resource, context, and study design attributes, where these attributes include estimated use values for identical improvements. Results are contrasted across four different statistical approaches: ordinary least squares, weighted least squares, multilevel models, and simultaneous equation models. Findings illustrate robust, systematic relationships between a variety of attributes and estimated nonuse WTP, in addition to a systematic empirical relationship between use and nonuse values. Results are promising with regard to the ability of meta-analysis to synthesize information regarding nonuse WTP for water quality improvements and to reveal relationships unapparent from individual stated preference models.INDEX TERMS: 6304 Policy Sciences: Benefit-cost analysis; 6329 Policy Sciences: Project evaluation; 6399 Policy Sciences: General or miscellaneous; KEYWORDS: meta-analysis, water quality, nonuse value, stated preference, willingness to pay Citation: Johnston, R. J., E. Y. Besedin, and R. F. Wardwell, Modeling relationships between use and nonuse values for surface water quality: A meta-analysis, Water Resour.

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