Item Nonresponse in Contingent Valuation: Should CV Researchers Impute Values for Missing Independent Variables?

Abstract

AbstractItem nonresponse is a common problem in contingent valuation research. Discarding incomplete cases will result in biased samples if the discarded cases are nonrandom. Imputing values for missing independent variables and including the incomplete cases may improve overall econometric performance, correct sample bias, and correct bias in aggregate benefit estimates.KEYWORDS: Item nonresponse biascontingent valuationaggregate benefits