Self image and choice experiments: hypothetical and actual willingness to pay

• This paper proposes that people derive utility from a positive self-image, influenced by ethical views, internal honesty, and consistency between sequential choices. A model is tested by conducting the same choice-experiment for two WWF-campaigns in three different contexts. It predicts that marginal WTP for contributions to these campaigns is highest when choices are hypothetical, lower in a real-money experiment that follows a hypothetical experiment, and lowest when real-money choices are made directly. Additionally, it predicts that marginal WTP decreases with the scale of financial incentives in a real-money experiment. The empirical results are consistent with these hypotheses.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Ekonomi och näringsliv -- Nationalekonomi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Economics and Business -- Economics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

choice experiment; self-image; hypothetical and real WTP; cognitive dissonance; environmental valuation

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

rap (ämneskategori)