Stated Preference Methods Using R

""This is a very useful introduction to the econometrics of stated preference methods. A very significant strength of the book is the use of R. I have been teaching this type of course for many years without the benefit of this book. I wish I had it many years ago."" —Bengt Kriström, Professor and Chair, Department of Forest Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), and Research Director, Centre for Environmental and Resource Economics (CERE) ""It is wonderful to finally see a book on how to use R to estimate the welfare measures commonly used in nonmarket valuation studies. The authors provide a set of R functions for some of the procedures most commonly used with stated preference data. Just as important, like almost all R functions, the user can see how these functions were coded as a way of understanding how they work and how new functions can be created. Using R opens up a very wide range of statistical procedures and visualization tools that will allow researchers to look at their stated preference data in new ways."" —Richard T. Carson, Professor, Department of Economics, University of California, San Diego ""There are a number of very expensive statistical packages that can be used to analyze stated preference data. R is free so it is wonderful for teaching undergraduate students and others who don’t have access to expensive packages. Aizaki, Nakatani, and Sato have provided a valuable reference book for stated preference researchers and teachers who want to use R. I used the book to install R and the contingent valuation package in a few minutes. I was estimating CVM models soon afterwards. I’m especially excited that the package contains an easy-to-use nonparametric willingness to pay estimator that is superior to the spreadsheet methods I’ve been using for years. The package includes very well-known (Exxon Valdez) and less well-known (Albemarle-Pamlico) contingent valuation data. These data allow the user to play around with the package and compare results to what has been published in the literature. This book is an ideal reference for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in environmental valuation."" —John C. Whitehead, Professor, Department of Economics, Appalachian State University