The effect of resource quality information on resource injury perceptions and contingent values

The analysis examines how resource injury information provided by a questionnaire affects contingent valuations. A key determinant is the difference between new and prior information. Redundant information has no effect. Also, respondents have different priors so the effect of new information is uneven; information increases restoration value for some respondents while reducing it for others. Empirical results confirmed the heterogeneity of respondents. Values were sensitive to the broad dimensions of a resource injury, such as the geographic extent and toxicity. Injury details had less significant effects that varied from positive to negative in algebraic sign.