Trading taxes vs. paying taxes to value and finance public environmental goods

The potential sensitivity of environmental resource valuation to payment vehicles is of interest to researchers and decision-makers involved in estimating and applying these numbers. A conceptual model is developed which provides insight into how the different payment vehicles of a special tax and a tax reallocation affects the willingness to pay (WTP) for environmental goods. Hypothesis testing using contingent valuation data suggests WTP with a tax reallocation is higher than WTP with a special tax for ground water quality protection in Georgia and Maine, USA. Technical measurement and welfare analysis implications and limitations of valuing and financing public environmental goods using tax realloactions are discussed.