Valuation of Local Demand for Improved Air Quality: The Case of the Mae Moh Coal Mine Site in Thailand

While the district of Mae Moh, Thailand has been well known for its atmospheric pollution associated with coal power production, economic assessment demand improved air quality not conducted to date. This study estimated local residents’ individual and aggregate willingness pay (WTP) mitigation in Moh using contingent valuation method (CVM), analyzed factors WTP bivariate tobit double-hurdle regression techniques. Primary data were collected through face-to-face interviews a stratified sample 200 residents. The hypothetical scenarios used CVM module 50% 80% concentrations major pollutants. weighted average was found be THB 251.3 307.9 per annum (USD 8.4 10.3) reduction scenarios, respectively. entire population 10,008,733 12,264,761 336,294 412,096), Education, occupation type, income, expenses, satisfaction ambient quality, perceived sources had significant associations WTP. paper concludes by discussing policy implications management avenues future research.