The Willingness to Pay to Remove Billboards and Improve Mountain Views

Peter A. Groothuis, Jana D. Groothuis and John C. Whitehead ()

No 06-04, Working Papers from Department of Economics, Appalachian State University

Abstract: We use the contingent valuation method to measure the amount citizens are willing to pay to improve mountain-view aesthetics through the removal of billboards. Our approach addresses both the perceived property rights as well as the perceptions of the status quo in the southern Appalachian Mountains. We find that individuals who retire to the mountains have different preferences for land use and mountain views than individuals who have ancestors who lived in Watauga County. In the aggregate, we find that citizens are willing to pay up almost one-half million dollars to remove billboards from Watauga County roadsides. This study provides insights to the debate surrounding land use in the mountains.

New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr, nep-env and nep-tur
Date: Written
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