Exploring the connections between participation in and benefits from payments for hydrological services programs in Veracruz State, Mexico


Por: Jones K.W., Avila Foucat S., Pischke E.C., Salcone J., Torrez D., Selfa T., Halvorsen K.E.

Publicada: 1 feb 2019
Resumen:
Payments for hydrological services (PHS) programs are expected to confer tangible benefits to households. Impact evaluations of PHS programs, however, find few to no changes in material indicators. One reason for this may be that non-financial motivations and benefits-including environmental or social-influence participation and are important outcomes for households participating in PHS programs. In this paper we test this hypothesis using 56 interviews and 181 surveys from households in Veracruz State, Mexico. Using logistic regression models we find that human, natural, physical and financial capital are important to the decision to participate in PHS, but so are pro-social and pro-environmental motivations. Using counterfactual impact evaluation methods we find few changes in material benefits but do find that PHS participants are more likely to report positive changes in their household and community quality of life over the last five years compared to households not participating in PHS programs. Qualitative information supports these findings. Our results contribute to the evolving theory on PHS that participation is driven by a mix of financial and non-financial motivations and that nonmaterial benefits are an important outcome of these programs.

Filiaciones:
Jones K.W.:
 Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO, United States

Avila Foucat S.:
 División de Estudios de Posgrado, Facultad de Economía, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), México City, Mexico

Pischke E.C.:
 Department of Social Sciences, Environmental and Energy Policy Program, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, United States

Salcone J.:
 Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO, United States

 United Nations Environment Program, The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB), Geneva, Switzerland

Torrez D.:
 División de Estudios de Posgrado, Facultad de Economía, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), México City, Mexico

Selfa T.:
 Department of Environmental Studies, State University of New York-College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, United States

Halvorsen K.E.:
 Department of Social Sciences, Environmental and Energy Policy Program, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, United States

 School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, United States
ISSN: 22120416
Editorial
Elsevier, PO BOX 211, 1000 AE AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS, Países Bajos
Tipo de documento: Article
Volumen: 35 Número:
Páginas: 32-42
WOS Id: 000457119300004