RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Destination Choice Models for Rock Climbing in the Northeastern Alps: A Latent-Class Approach Based on Intensity of Preferences
JF Land Economics
JO Land Econ
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 426
OP 444
DO 10.3368/le.81.3.426
VO 81
IS 3
A1 Scarpa, Riccardo
A1 Thiene, Mara
YR 2005
UL http://le.uwpress.org/content/81/3/426.abstract
AB Rock climbers are likely to exhibit preference heterogeneity dictating the way with which such sport is practiced. This has a reflection on the population’s structure of recreational values of rock-climbing destinations, their attributes, and to land management policies. We test this hypothesis on a panel of destination choices by a sample of members of the Italian Alpine Club. Using a latent-class, random utility approach we find evidence in support of the hypothesis that there are at least four classes in the sample, thereby revealing a considerable richness in the structure of preference, which would otherwise be unobservable with more conventional approaches. (JEL Q26, C25)