Modelling inter-temporal development preferences: A case study in the Southeast Yukon

This research increases the understanding of how Southeast Yukon residents want to see their community develop. The analysis provides information on attribute trade-offs and implicit rates of time preference. The research utilized focus groups and expert consultation to design a choice experiment survey The participants were asked to vote between two development scenarios that were described by four attributes that vary over 100 years: the regional population, the percentage of local residents who have jobs, the number of moose (an indicator of wildlife populations), and the fish catch rates (an indicator of aquatic ecosystem health). A conditional logit model provides estimates of preferences and their variability across groups in the study region. This information will then be integrated into ALCES North (a large-scale simulation model). The overall process enables planners to understand and incorporate the trade-offs associated with alternative projects. The research also increases the understanding of temporal choice experiments.