RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Linking Forests to Airsheds
JF Land Economics
JO Land Econ
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP le.102.4.042225-0032R1
DO 10.3368/le.102.4.042225-0032R1
A1 Jawhari, Ahmed Amine
A1 Jones, Benjamin A.
A1 Berrens, Robert P.
YR 2026
UL http://le.uwpress.org/content/early/2026/04/06/le.102.4.042225-0032R1.abstract
AB Wildfire smoke reduction in the western United States presents a regional public good challenge, as local fires send smoke across state lines. This study evaluates households’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) to reduce smoke through forest fuel treatments. A contingent-valuation referendum (N=1,023; WTP n=623) with ex-ante/ex-post choice-purification screens yields a conservative median WTP of $94 to $123 (2021 USD) per year for one avoided smoke day. Valuations are higher among households who trust agencies, report health concerns, and support treatments. Preferences are polarized: 15% reject the prescribed fire smoke tradeoff, showing near-zero WTP. These benefit estimates can inform benefit-cost analysis and budgetary appropriations.