title: Willingness to Pay for Mosquito Control in Key West, Florida and Tucson, Arizona.
abstract: Mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile virus (WNV) and dengue are growing threats to the United States. Proactive mosquito control is one strategy to reduce the risk of disease transmission. In 2012, we measured the public's willingness to pay (WTP) for increased mosquito control in two cities: Key West, FL, where there have been recent dengue outbreaks, and Tucson, AZ, where dengue vectors are established and WNV has been circulating for over a decade. Nearly three quarters of respondents in both cities (74% in Tucson and 73% in Key West) would be willing to pay $25 or more annually toward an increase in publicly funded mosquito control efforts. WTP was positively associated with income (both cities), education (Key West), and perceived mosquito abundance (Tucson). Concerns about environmental impacts of mosquito control were associated with lower WTP in Key West. Expanded mosquito control efforts should incorporate public opinion as they respond to evolving disease risks.
authors.affiliation: Research Applications Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado; Center for Science and Technology Policy Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado; University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona katied@ucar.edu.
authors.forename: Katherine L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Dickinson
authors.affiliation: Research Applications Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado; Center for Science and Technology Policy Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado; University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
authors.forename: Mary H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hayden
authors.affiliation: Research Applications Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado; Center for Science and Technology Policy Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado; University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haenchen
authors.affiliation: Research Applications Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado; Center for Science and Technology Policy Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado; University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Monaghan
authors.affiliation: Research Applications Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado; Center for Science and Technology Policy Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado; University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
authors.forename: Kathleen R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Research Applications Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado; Center for Science and Technology Policy Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado; University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
authors.forename: Kacey C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Ernst
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000330:Aedes / Q000821:virology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001130:Arizona; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003465:Culex / Q000821:virology; D003715:Dengue / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005431:Florida; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult