Willingness-to-pay for a Haze Adaptation Programme and a Haze Eradication Programme in Singapore: The 2015 Transboundary Haze
Prof. Chia Wai Mun
Associate Professor
Nanyang Technological University
Date: 03 November 2023 (Friday)
Time: 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm
Venue: E22-G015
Host: Prof. Brenda ZHANG, Associate Professor in Business Economics
Online registration: https://umac.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cxczZiVZZN7Q17M
Abstract
In Southeast Asia, the seasonal transboundary haze pollution stemming from slash-and-burn practices of traditional Indonesian farmers affects several countries in the region including Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei. Despite both domestic and regional efforts which have been put in place to help fight against haze, the Southeast Asian haze remains a long-term issue that recurs in varying degree of intensity during every dry season in the region. While we remain optimistic that the problem will eventually be resolved, given that most of these fires are man-made, solutions can be executed successfully only in the longer run. In the interim, one of Singapore’s options is to adapt. A contingent valuation (CV) survey on 793 Singapore residents was conducted in Singapore between November to December 2017 to elicit their willingness-to-pay (WTP) for a haze adaptation programme and a haze eradication programme in Singapore. We use a double-bounded dichotomous choice CV survey design and the Kaplan-Meier-Turnbull method and the probit regression to infer the distribution of Singapore residents’ willingness to pay for the two programme and find that they are willing to pay between S$46.46 to S$60.06 for a haze adaptation programme that reduce the local impacts of haze and between S$51.66 to S$66.76 for a haze eradication programme. These findings suggest that Singapore residents continue to value government’s effort to derive solutions to resolve the haze crisis that recurs intermittently.
Speaker
Professor Chia Wai Mun is an Associate Professor of Economics at the School of Social Sciences in Nanyang Technological University. Her research focuses primarily on macroeconomics, particularly in international macroeconomics and international finance. Additionally, she has an impressive portfolio in cost-benefit analysis. Professor Chia holds a PhD in economics from Nanyang Technological University, a MSc in economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a BSc in economics from the University of London. As a cost-benefit analysis consultant, Professor Chia provides her expertise to various government agencies, including the National Environment Agency (NEA), Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), Singapore Police Force (SPF), Building and Construction Authority (BCA), Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), Land Transport Authority (LTA), and National Heritage Board (NHB). Currently, Professor Chia holds the position of Associate Chair (Academic) at the School of Social Sciences. In the past, she has served as the Director of the MSc in Applied Economics (MSAE) and Head of Economics at the School.
All are welcome!
