Abstract

Three decades of non-market water quality valuation (NMWQV) studies in Canada are analyzed to generate a generic benefits transfer function. Contrary to the large valuation literature focusing on water and wilderness-based recreation in Canada, the number of studies related to water quality is limited. NMWQV studies lack a common design, including consistent adherence to a Canada-specific water quality ladder (WQL). Despite the high degree of data heterogeneity, values extracted from the literature show an increasing step function when relating them to the Resources for the Future WQL. Meta-regression models (MRMs) explain a large share of the variation in value estimates based on the type of water resources, population and methodological characteristics. Baseline water quality and the size of the water quality change are significant determinants of the estimated non-market values. With a relative mean prediction error of no more than 20 percent, the predictive power of the estimated MRMs is high. As such, they are an important step forward in the development of a policy-relevant water quality valuation model. However, there is a clear need for the development of more coherent non-market valuation guidelines in the Canadian water context.

摘要

分析了加拿大三个十年的非市场水质评估 (NMWQV) 研究，以生成通用的收益传递函数。与加拿大大量关注水和基于荒野的休闲活动的估值文献相反，与水质相关的研究数量有限。NMWQV 研究缺乏通用设计，包括始终遵守加拿大特定的水质阶梯 (WQL)。尽管数据具有高度的异质性，但从文献中提取的值在将它们与未来 WQL 的资源相关联时显示出递增的阶跃函数。元回归模型 (MRM) 解释了基于水资源类型、人口和方法特征的价值估计变化的很大一部分。基准水质和水质变化的大小是估计非市场价值的重要决定因素。相对平均预测误差不超过 20%，估计 MRM 的预测能力很高。因此，它们是制定与政策相关的水质评估模型的重要一步。然而，显然需要在加拿大水环境中制定更加连贯的非市场估值指南。