Citizens’ Perception of Past Environmental Damage and Liability in Countries with Transition: Evidence from Kemerovo, Russia

Abstract

This paper analyzes citizens' perception of past environmental damage and liability through the estimation of willingness to pay for the implementation of decontamination and land rehabilitation of the damaged site. The paper takes the Russian Federation as a case of country in transition and focuses on Kemerovo region as one of the most affected regions in the country. The major analytical tool employed in the study is choice experiment, data for which was collected through a household survey. Primary conclusion of the analysis is that citizens' willingness to financially support the implementation of environmental quality improvement projects is not high though individuals in the studied area express high level of concern over the issue in focus.

Allocating Costs of Environmental Management among Generations: A Case of Environmental Liabilities in Transition Economies

“…The estimation results in Model (1) are similar to that ofKalugin et al (2010) in terms of the significance of the variables, but differ slightly mainly because of the smaller sample in the current analysis (160 respondents compared with 167 inKalugin et al (2010)). …”

“…As the massive environmental liabilities are barriers to economic development and involve a significant financial burden for taxpayers, a discussion of the implications of the cost allocations among generations is essential. Kalugin et al (2010) appears to be the first attempt, using choice experiment methods, to analyze citizens' preferences for managing the quality of drinking water and the soil contamination of the land caused by the environmental liabilities. Kalugin et al (2010) examined the marginal WTP for improving water quality and reducing soil contamination of the lands.…”

“…Kalugin et al (2010) appears to be the first attempt, using choice experiment methods, to analyze citizens' preferences for managing the quality of drinking water and the soil contamination of the land caused by the environmental liabilities. Kalugin et al (2010) examined the marginal WTP for improving water quality and reducing soil contamination of the lands. The current paper applies the data set used in preferences, as well as accounting for the effects, of the variables beyond the generational effects (such as sex, education, household size, location of the residential place, and household income).…”