Controlling starting-point bias in double-bounded contingent valuation surveys

Overview & Synopsis

In this paper, we study starting point bias in double-bounded contingent valuation surveys. This phenomenon arise in applications that use multiple valuation questions. Indeed, response to follow-up valuation questions may be influenced by the bid proposed in the initial valuation question. Previous research have been conducted in order to control for such an effect. However, they find that efficiency gains are lost when we control for undesirable response effects, relative to a single dichotomous choice question. Contrary to these results, we propose a way to control for starting point bias in double-bounded questions with gains in efficiency