Social desirability bias in the environmental economic valuation: An inferred valuation approach

Environmental economic valuation allows to derive values from individuals' behaviour in hypothetical markets, but it is not exempt certain biases. This work aims evidence the existence of Social Desirability Bias (SDB) use stated preference method for environmental valuation. SDB due consideration that, when interviewed, people provide responses match interviewer's expectations or be consistent with social norms. The Inferred Valuation Approach (IVA) was used identify and quantify desirability bias a choice experiment survey conducted estimate benefit protecting coastal Natura 2000 site. results revealed that increases by 2.8-fold benefits valued assets. It also found greater differences between non-use IVA used.