Abstract

LOPEZ SANTIAGO, Marco Andrés et al. Economic valuation of a sand mine. Terra Latinoam [online]. 2010, vol.28, n.3, pp.255-263. ISSN 2395-8030.

This research assessed the willingness to pay (WTP) for the improvement of environmental conditions in areas directly affected by mining activity. This is attained by the contingent valuation method (CVM). The results obtained were analyzed with logistic regression and maximum likelihood methodologies. The inhabitants of the communal land Ejido Coatepec, in Ixtapaluca, state of Mexico, expressed that their problems are related mainly to air pollution and loss of aesthetic scenery due to deforestation. Thus, the study found that the people shows a high WTP, since each individual is willing to pay almost $124 per month to improve current environmental conditions. Finally, we conclude that the logistic regression system is a good tool for this kind of research, substituting the ordinary minimum squares method.

Keywords : contingent assessment method; willingness to pay; environmental quality; logistic regression; maximum likelihood.