SAMPLE NONRESPONSE IN A MAIL CONTINGENT VALUATION SURVEY - AN EMPIRICAL-TEST OF THE EFFECT ON VALUE INFERENCE

A mail contingent valuation survey was used to assess the environmenta l values related to northern Swedish forests. A follow-up survey, focu sed on attitudes toward the forest environment and toward forest envir onmental research, was also conducted. The follow-up survey was sent t o respondents and nonrespondents of the contingent valuation survey. D ata from these two surveys formed the basis for a test of sample nonre sponse effect on value inferences. Attitudes toward the forest environ ment significantly affect willingness-to-pay though attitudes toward r esearch do not. Respondents and nonrespondents for the contingent valu ation survey do not differ significantly on attitudes toward the fores t environment or toward research. Value inference from the initial sam ple (the respondents to the contingent valuation survey) can therefore be considered as representative for the population.