Write your abstract here.The effect of globalization and unplanned modernization contribute to various environmental hazards including
urban air pollution in
developing countries. Studies have shown that the main contributing factors to air pollution are the overwhelming concentration of vehicles, poor transport infrastructure and the establishment of industries in urban agglomerations (Gupta 2006). Due to various health risks associated with it (e.g. acute respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, loss of work days and quality of life), air pollution has received immense importance among environmentalists, researchers, analysts and policy makers. Therefore, valuation of health
risk becomes crucial for proper cost-benefit analysis of governmental programs and evaluating policies. The objective of the study is to determine individuals’ preference for risk
reduction associated with reduction in the exposure to air pollution as well as quantify the societal value on avoiding potential health effects from air pollution in the context of developing countries. Eventually, the study would try to develop some policy suggestions to address the above issues based on research findings. The study will use the contingent valuation (CV) method (Mitchell and Carson 1989; Haneman 1994) to value individuals’ preference for reducing environmental health risks occurring due to urban air pollution in developing countries. The CV method involves eliciting individuals’ willingness to pay for hypothetical risk reduction and has been frequently used for determining individuals’ preference (WTP) associated with reduction in air pollution, (Alberini, 1997; Krupnick et. al. 2002). The proposed research will take into consideration the present state of knowledge in the subject matter and will try to contribute to the methodologies in the context of developing countries.
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