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Selected Works

Agricultural and Resource Economics

George Parsons

Articles 1 - 26 of 26

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Benefit Transfer Combining Revealed And Stated Preference Data: Nourishment And Retreat Options For Delaware Bay Beaches, Robert J. Johnston, Mahesh Ramachadran, George R. Parsons Dec 2014

Benefit Transfer Combining Revealed And Stated Preference Data: Nourishment And Retreat Options For Delaware Bay Beaches, Robert J. Johnston, Mahesh Ramachadran, George R. Parsons

George Parsons

Abstract appears in attached article

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Valuing Beach Width For Recreational Use Combining Revealed And Stated Preference Data, George R. Parsons, Michael K. Hidrue, Zhe Chen, Naomi Standing, Jonathan Lilley Dec 2012

Valuing Beach Width For Recreational Use Combining Revealed And Stated Preference Data, George R. Parsons, Michael K. Hidrue, Zhe Chen, Naomi Standing, Jonathan Lilley

George Parsons

In this paper we present a travel cost model combining revealed and stated preference data on beach use in Delaware and use it to value changes in beach width. We use an in-person on-site survey at seven bay beaches in the state. The analysis is in two stages. The first is a model for predicting the number of visitors at each site over a 12-month period based on an on-site count of visitors. The second is a single-site travel cost model that combines actual and contingent trip data. We estimate the loss for narrowing beaches to a quarter current width …

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Travel Cost Methods, George R. Parsons Dec 2012

Travel Cost Methods, George R. Parsons

George Parsons

No abstract provided.

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Valuing The Visual Disamenity Of Offshore Wind Projects At Varying Distances From The Shore, Andrew D. Krueger, George R. Parsons, Jeremy Firestone Apr 2011

Valuing The Visual Disamenity Of Offshore Wind Projects At Varying Distances From The Shore, Andrew D. Krueger, George R. Parsons, Jeremy Firestone

George Parsons

Several offshore wind power projects are under consideration in the United States. A concern with any wind power project is the visual disamenity it may create. Using a stated preference choice model, we estimated the external costs to residents of the State of Delaware for offshore wind turbines located at different distances from the coast. The annual costs to inland residents was $19, $9, $1, and $0 (2006$) for turbines located at 1, 3.6, 6, and 9 miles offshore. The cost to residents living on the ocean was $80, $69, $35, and $27 for the same increments.

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Willingness To Pay For Electric Vehicles And Their Attributes, Michael K. Hidrue, George R. Parsons, Willett Kempton, Meryl Gardner Dec 2010

Willingness To Pay For Electric Vehicles And Their Attributes, Michael K. Hidrue, George R. Parsons, Willett Kempton, Meryl Gardner

George Parsons

This paper presents a stated preference study of electric vehicle choice using data from a national survey. In our choice experiment, 3029 respondents chose between their preferred gasoline vehicle and two electric versions of their preferred gasoline vehicle. Using the response data we valued five electric vehicle attributes: driving range, charging time, fuel cost saving, pollution reduction, and performance. Driving range, fuel savings, and charging time led in importance to respondents. Individuals were willing to pay (wtp) from $35 to $75 for a mile of added driving range, with incremental wtp per mile decreasing at higher distances. They were willing …

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Gauging The Value Of Short-Term Site Closures In A Travel-Cost Rum Model Of Recreation Demand With A Little Help From Stated Preference Data, George R. Parsons, Stela Stefanova Dec 2010

Gauging The Value Of Short-Term Site Closures In A Travel-Cost Rum Model Of Recreation Demand With A Little Help From Stated Preference Data, George R. Parsons, Stela Stefanova

George Parsons

No abstract provided.

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The Economic Value Of Viewing Migratory Shorebirds On The Delaware Bay: An Application Of The Single Site Travel Cost Model Using On-Site Data, Peter E T Edwards, George R. Parsons, Kelley A. Myers Dec 2010

The Economic Value Of Viewing Migratory Shorebirds On The Delaware Bay: An Application Of The Single Site Travel Cost Model Using On-Site Data, Peter E T Edwards, George R. Parsons, Kelley A. Myers

George Parsons

We estimated a count data model of recreation demand using data from an on-site survey of recreational birders who had visited southern Delaware during the month-long annual horseshoe crab/shorebird spring migration in 2008. We analyzed daytrips only. Our estimates from the models ranged from $32 to $142/trip/household or about $131 to $582/season/household (2008$). The variation was due to differences in the value of time. The average household size was 1.66. We found that the valuation results were sensitive to the inclusion of covariates in the model. Our results are useful for damage assessments and benefit-cost analyses where birdwatching is affected.

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The Uneasy Case For Subsidizing Energy Efficiency, George R. Parsons, Burton A. Abrams Dec 2009

The Uneasy Case For Subsidizing Energy Efficiency, George R. Parsons, Burton A. Abrams

George Parsons

An evaluation of cash for clunkers -- cars and appliances. It does not look good from an efficiency perspective.

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Compensatory Restoration In A Random Utility Model Of Recreation Demand, George R. Parsons, Ami K. Kang Dec 2009

Compensatory Restoration In A Random Utility Model Of Recreation Demand, George R. Parsons, Ami K. Kang

George Parsons

Natural Resource Damage Assessment cases often call for compensation in non-monetary or restoration equivalent terms. In this paper we present an approach that uses a conventional economic model, a travel-cost random utility model of site choice, to determine compensatory restoration equivalents for hypothetical beach closures on the Gulf Coast of Texas. Our focus is on closures of beaches on the Padre Island National Seashore and compensation for day-trip users. We use a mixed logit site choice model in our application with revealed preference data. Using the random utility model we identify restoration projects (changes in beach characteristics) that pass a …

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Effects Of Information About Invasive Species On Risk Perception And Seafood Demand By Gender And Race, Timothy C. Haab, John C. Whitehead, George R. Parsons, Jamie Price Dec 2009

Effects Of Information About Invasive Species On Risk Perception And Seafood Demand By Gender And Race, Timothy C. Haab, John C. Whitehead, George R. Parsons, Jamie Price

George Parsons

In this paper we consider the effects of negative and positive risk information on perceived seafood risks and seafood consumption by gender and race. The data is from a Mid-Atlantic survey of coastal seafood consumers. We elicit risk perceptions in three risk scenarios with a dichotomous choice with a follow-up question format. We elicit continuous revealed and stated preference seafood consumption in nine risk and price scenarios. Analysis in four gender and race categories indicates that demographic groups respond to the positive and negative information in different ways. Communication of risk information as risk mitigation policy is a challenge.

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Measuring The Recreational Use Value Of Migratory Shorebirds: A Stated Preference Study Of Birdwatching On The Delaware Bay, Kelley H. Myers, George R. Parsons, Peter E T Edwards Dec 2009

Measuring The Recreational Use Value Of Migratory Shorebirds: A Stated Preference Study Of Birdwatching On The Delaware Bay, Kelley H. Myers, George R. Parsons, Peter E T Edwards

George Parsons

In this article we estimate the recreational use value of household trips to view shorebirds during the annual horseshoe crab/shorebird migration on the Delaware Bay. We use contingent valuation to estimate the value of day and overnight trips separately and use a discrete choice question followed by a payment-card question to generate our valuation data. Our best estimates for the value of a day trip is about $66 - $90/household and for an overnight trip is about $200 - $425/household (2008$). Our data are from the 2008 season, and our average household size is 1.66. For some context, estimates from …

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Valuing Beach Closures On The Padre Island National Seashore, George R. Parsons, Ami K. Kang, Christopher G. Leggett, Kevin J. Boyle Dec 2008

Valuing Beach Closures On The Padre Island National Seashore, George R. Parsons, Ami K. Kang, Christopher G. Leggett, Kevin J. Boyle

George Parsons

We estimate the economic loss due to hypothetical beach closures on the Padre Island National Seashore on the Gulf Coast of Texas. We consider the closure of the entire park, groups of beaches in the park, and for comparison, beaches elsewhere on the coast. We estimate a linked site choice/trip frequency model of day trips. The site choice model is estimated using multinomial and mixed logit. The trip frequency model is estimated using a negative binomial regression. Using the mixed logit model, the mean per-trip loss for the closure of all Padre beaches is about $20; the loss-to-trip ratio is …

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The Welfare Effects Of Pfiesteria-Related Fish Kills: A Contingent Behavior Analysis Of Seafood Consumers, George R. Parsons, Ash O. Morgan, John C. Whitehead, Tim C. Haab Sep 2006

The Welfare Effects Of Pfiesteria-Related Fish Kills: A Contingent Behavior Analysis Of Seafood Consumers, George R. Parsons, Ash O. Morgan, John C. Whitehead, Tim C. Haab

George Parsons

We use contingent behavior analysis to study the effects of pfiesteria-related fish kills on the demand for seafood in the Mid-Atlantic region. We estimate a set of demand difference models based on individual responses to questions about seafood consumption in the presence of fish kills and with different amounts of information provided about health risks. We use a random-effects Tobit model to control for correlation across each observation and to account for censoring. We find that (i) pfiesteria-related fish kills have a significant negative effect on the demand for seafood even though the fish kills pose no known threat to …

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Estimation And Welfare Analysis With Large Demand Systems, Roger Von Haefen, Daniel Phaneuf, George R. Parsons Dec 2003

Estimation And Welfare Analysis With Large Demand Systems, Roger Von Haefen, Daniel Phaneuf, George R. Parsons

George Parsons

We develop an approach for estimating individual or household level preferences for a large set of quality-differentiated goods and for constructing Hicksian welfare measures within the demand system framework. Our approach uses a maximum simulated likelihood procedure to recover estimates of the structural parameters and a multistage, Monte Carlo Markov chain algorithm for constructing Hicksian consumer surplus estimates. We illustrate our approach with a recreation dataset consisting of day trips to 62 Mid-Atlantic beaches.

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Effects Of Regulations On Expected Catch, Expected Harvest, And Site Choice Of Recreational Anglers, David Scrogin, Kevin Boyle, George R. Parsons, Andrew J. Plantinga Dec 2003

Effects Of Regulations On Expected Catch, Expected Harvest, And Site Choice Of Recreational Anglers, David Scrogin, Kevin Boyle, George R. Parsons, Andrew J. Plantinga

George Parsons

No abstract provided.

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A Value Capture Property Tax For Financing Beach Nourishment Projects: An Application To Delaware's Ocean Beaches, George R. Parsons, Joelle Noailly Dec 2003

A Value Capture Property Tax For Financing Beach Nourishment Projects: An Application To Delaware's Ocean Beaches, George R. Parsons, Joelle Noailly

George Parsons

We propose and apply a value capture property tax for financing beach nourishment projects. Our application is to beaches in the state of Delaware. Using a hedonic price function we estimate the implicit value ofproximity to the beach. Using these results we then infer a property tax schedule that taxes homeowners roughly in proportion to the benefits they receive from the projects. We argue that the tax is equitable in the sense that tax burden and project benefits are aligned. We argue that it is efficient in the sense that homeowners face the real cost ofmaintaining beaches that protect and …

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The Travel Cost Model, George R. Parsons Dec 2002

The Travel Cost Model, George R. Parsons

George Parsons

No abstract provided.

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Measuring The Economic Benefits Of Water Quality Improvements To Recreational Users In Six Northeastern States: An Application Of The Random Utility Maximization Model, George R. Parsons, Eric C. Helm, Tim Bondelid Dec 2002

Measuring The Economic Benefits Of Water Quality Improvements To Recreational Users In Six Northeastern States: An Application Of The Random Utility Maximization Model, George R. Parsons, Eric C. Helm, Tim Bondelid

George Parsons

We estimate the economic benefits of water quality improvements for recreational users of lakes, rivers and coastlines in six northeastern states. The benefits are measured using separate travel cost random utility maximization models for fishing, boating, swimming, and viewing. All models are for day-trip recreation. The models are estimated using data from the 1994 National Survey of Recreation and the Environment and from water quality modeling simulations of the National Water Pollution Control Assessment Model. We consider several scenarios for water quality improvements and estimate annual benefits in the region due the Clean Water Act to be near $100 million …

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Measuring The Cost Of Beach Retreat, George R. Parsons, Michael Powell Dec 2000

Measuring The Cost Of Beach Retreat, George R. Parsons, Michael Powell

George Parsons

We estimate the cost over the next 50 years of allowing Delaware’s ocean beaches to retreat inland. Since most of the costs are expected to be land and capital loss, especially in housing, we focus our attention on measuring t hat value. We use a hedonic price regressi on to estimate the value of land and structures in the region using a dat a set on recent housing sales. Then, using historical rat es of erosion along the coast and an inventory of all housing and commercial structures in the threatened coastal area, we predict the value of the land …

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The Effect Of Nesting Structure Specification On Welfare Estimation In A Random Utility Model Of Recreation Demand: An Application To The Demand For Recreational Fishing, George R. Parsons, A Brett Hauber Jul 2000

The Effect Of Nesting Structure Specification On Welfare Estimation In A Random Utility Model Of Recreation Demand: An Application To The Demand For Recreational Fishing, George R. Parsons, A Brett Hauber

George Parsons

No abstract provided.

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A Comparison Of Welfare Estimates From Four Models For Linking Seasonal Recreational Trips To Multinomial Models Of Site Choice, George R. Parsons, Ted Tomasi, Paul Jakus Dec 1998

A Comparison Of Welfare Estimates From Four Models For Linking Seasonal Recreational Trips To Multinomial Models Of Site Choice, George R. Parsons, Ted Tomasi, Paul Jakus

George Parsons

We compare four methods of linking a site choice Random Utility Model to a seasonal trip model. The four approaches are those proposed by Morey et al. 1993, Hausman et al. 1995, Parsons and Kealy 1995, and Feather et al. 1995. We estimate the alternative models using a common data set and calculate a change in welfare for two policy scenarios across the models. We find that there is little practical difference between the approaches of Morey et al. and Hausman et al. They are nearly the same mathematically, and the welfare estimates in our empirical example are quite close. …

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Familiar And Favorite Sites In A Random Utility Model Of Beach Recreation, George R. Parsons, Daniel Mathew Massey, Ted Tomasi Dec 1998

Familiar And Favorite Sites In A Random Utility Model Of Beach Recreation, George R. Parsons, Daniel Mathew Massey, Ted Tomasi

George Parsons

No abstract provided.

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Spatial Boundaries And Choice Set Definition In A Random Utility Model Of Recreation Demand, George R. Parsons, A Brett Hauber Jan 1998

Spatial Boundaries And Choice Set Definition In A Random Utility Model Of Recreation Demand, George R. Parsons, A Brett Hauber

George Parsons

We are concerned with the definition of choice set used in Random Utility Models of recreation demand. In particular, we are concerned with the spatial boundaries used to define choice sets. In this paper, using a model of day-trip fishing in Maine, we examine the sensitivity of parameter and welfare estimates to changes in the spatial boundary. We fine that there exists some threshold distance beyond which adding more sites to the choice set has negligible effects on the estimation results.

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Randomly Drawn Opportunity Sets In A Random Utility Model Of Lake Recreation, George R. Parsons, Mary Jo Kealy Jan 1992

Randomly Drawn Opportunity Sets In A Random Utility Model Of Lake Recreation, George R. Parsons, Mary Jo Kealy

George Parsons

No abstract provided.

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Benefits Transfer: Conceptual Problems In Estimating Water Quality Benefits Using Existing Studies, William H. Desvouges, Michael C. Naughton, George R. Parsons Dec 1991

Benefits Transfer: Conceptual Problems In Estimating Water Quality Benefits Using Existing Studies, William H. Desvouges, Michael C. Naughton, George R. Parsons

George Parsons

The Environmental Protection Agency has used existing studies to estimate the benefits of environmental improvements associated with several regulatory proposals. The problems encountered in using existing studies to measure the benefits of water quality improvements are investigated in this paper. We propose criteria for selecting transfer studies and present a case study of a transfer. Our research indicates that although benefit transfer may offer promise, the fact that existing studies were not designed for transfer places severe limitations on the current effectiveness of transfer. Suggestions for future research are presented to address these limitations.

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An Almost Ideal Demand System For Housing Attributes, George R. Parsons Sep 1986

An Almost Ideal Demand System For Housing Attributes, George R. Parsons

George Parsons

No abstract provided.

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