Valoración económica de bienes públicos: estudio de caso del río Lerma, La Piedad, Michoacán

Abstract

The section of the Lerma River that crosses the metropolitan area of La Piedad de Cabadas, Michoacán-Santa Ana Pacueco, Guanajuato, has a length of approximately 12.8 km. It has now become a waste channel which has impacted heavily on public health issues. In this study, the contingent valuation method and logit model were used to determine the total economic value of this environmental good, and to analyze decision variables on the willingness to pay for improvements by its beneficiaries. The total economic value is estimated at more than 4 million pesos annually. This indicates that if environmental improvements are made, the population would benefit to the extent that the environmental effects of pollution are mitigated.