Measuring Use Value from Recreation Participation: Reply

Extract

In Whitehead (1992), I proposed a one-step method of estimating recreational use values. I appreciate the opportunity to clarify several points made in the original paper and correct some mathematical errors. The criticisms raise three major issues that should be addressed: the theoretical construct of use value, diminishing marginal utility, and empirical specification. Before I address the criticisms I would like to emphasize that the one-step, recreation-participation method is not viewed as superior to the two-step, travel-cost method or any of its extensions. The method is a means of obtaining order of magnitude use-value estimates if the travel-cost method can not be implemented. To re-state one of the conclusions: “The one-step method is a useful, low-cost substitute for two-step travel cost models when research budgets are limited (Whitehead, 1992 p. 118).” This notion was underemphasized in the original paper.