Journal of Forest Economics > Vol 18 > Issue 4

Attitudes, willingness to pay, and stated values for recreation use fees at an urban proximate forest

Randall S. Rosenberger, r.rosenberger@oregonstate.edu , Mark D. Needham, Anita T. Morzillo, Caitlin Moehrke
 
Suggested Citation
Randall S. Rosenberger, Mark D. Needham, Anita T. Morzillo and Caitlin Moehrke (2012), "Attitudes, willingness to pay, and stated values for recreation use fees at an urban proximate forest", Journal of Forest Economics: Vol. 18: No. 4, pp 271-281. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jfe.2012.06.003

Publication Date: 0/12/2012
© 0 2012 Randall S. Rosenberger, Mark D. Needham, Anita T. Morzillo, Caitlin Moehrke
 
Subjects
 
Keywords
JEL Codes:C51Q26Q51
Willingness to payAttitudesRecreationFees
 

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In this article:
Introduction 
Conceptual framework 
Statistical model 
Data 
Results 
Discussion and conclusions 

Abstract

Studies have combined contingent valuation and attitude theory in models directly predicting willingness to pay recreation fees. Little research, however, has modeled predictions of attitudes toward fees on both the intention to pay (WTP) and stated payment amount ($WTP) simultaneously. This article addresses that knowledge gap using onsite survey data from 1068 recreationists at the McDonald-Dunn forest in Oregon. Attitudes toward paying an annual fee at this forest were directly associated with WTP and were among the strongest predictors of WTP. Respondents with supportive attitudes toward paying the annual fee were more willing to pay than those who were opposed. The strength of attitudes also influenced WTP, with those respondents having stronger opposition being least likely to pay. Attitudes toward paying a fee were indirectly (i.e., mediation) related to the stated payment amount ($WTP), suggesting that payment is influenced by intention to pay (WTP), and this intention is partially a function of attitudes about fees.

DOI:10.1016/j.jfe.2012.06.003