PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF GLOBAL WARMING

In this paper, we examine the way public opinion responds to the prosp ect of global warming. In particular, we focus on the public's ''willi ngness to pay'' in order to prevent various hypothetical climate scena rios from transpiring. To this end, fractional factorial survey method s are employed with a sample of over 600 residents of Southern Califor nia. By and large, the public is able to understand and evaluate rathe r complicated hypothetical climate scenarios, but the public appreciat es some features of climate far better than others. In this context, t he contingent valuation estimates we provide, while promising, are cle arly not ready of consideration by policy makers.