AbstractThis paper investigates the economic value of municipal, private, and community‐managed water services in Guatemala through a hedonic analysis of rental housing prices observed in 2006. Hedonic models are jointly estimated with water service choices using a maximum simulated likelihood approach in order to control for potential endogeneity. Findings indicate that the value of piped water depends on the type of water utility. The estimated value of municipal services is at least 15 times as much as the average water bill, while value estimates are not significant for private and community‐managed systems. Value differentials are discussed considering the performance of water utilities and their institutional arrangements.
This paper compares the influence of gender and ethnicity on wage discrimination in Guatemala using the 2000 Living Standards Measurement Survey. The sample of employees is divided into six ethnic-gender groups: males and females in three ethnic groups (i.e., non-indigenous, major and minor ethnic groups). Normalized regressions are used to estimate wage structures for each ethnic gender group including the inverse of Mill's ratio as a regressor to correct for potential selectivity. Then, the contribution of gender and ethnic discrimination on wage differentials is examined. Findings indicate that, compared to ethnic discrimination, gender discrimination explains a more significant percentage of wage differentials between relevant groups. Additionally, results indicate that forms of wage discrimination differ across ethnic-gender groups.
AbstractMany developing countries lack universal sanitation services for residents. Years of inappropriate disposal of solid waste and wastewater have increased the potential for devastating environmental and health issues. An economic valuation of sanitation services may help in planning investment projects by demonstrating the benefits that households derive from having access to improved sanitation. We examine Guatemala as a case study and employ a series of hedonic models to estimate the value that households in Guatemala assign to the sanitation services of solid waste collection and connections to sewer infrastructure. Findings indicate that residents are willing to pay higher rents for both wastewater and solid waste removal. Policy implications are discussed.
AbstractEstimates of the economic value that the society assigns to improved water resources may help prioritize public investments in watershed protection. Using a contingent valuation survey, this study elicited household willingness to pay for watershed protection in two poor, semi‐urban communities in El Salvador. Findings indicate that local households have strong preferences for protecting their watershed. The average willingness to pay is estimated at three US dollars per month, equivalent to 1.5% of the average monthly household income. Results also suggest that there is a significant willingness to pay differential between studied communities, and that more educated respondents are willing to pay more for watershed protection than less educated individuals. These estimates have the potential to influence investment decisions regarding watershed conservation in semi‐urban areas.
The purpose of the research summarized in this paper is to provide policy-relevant knowledge on the governance of rural services in Guatemala and thus to contribute to improving the provision of services that are essential for agricultural and rural development. Based on quantitative and qualitative primary data, we examine how services are actually provided today and how community preferences and participation affect service provision in rural Guatemala. Our main finding is that the provision of formally decentralized services by local governments is incomplete. ; Non-PR ; IFPRI1; Theme 6; Subtheme 6.2; GRP32 ; DSGD
AbstractUsing data from the National Survey of Standards of Living conducted in Guatemala in 2000, this article tests the hypothesis that Guatemalan households use child labor and reduce child schooling to cope with household shocks. First, the authors use factor analysis to estimate the latent household propensity to natural disasters and socioeconomic shocks. Then, they estimate bivariate probit models to identify the determinants of child labor and schooling, including household propensity to natural disasters and socioeconomic shocks. Results suggest that households use child labor to cope with natural disasters and socioeconomic shocks. In contrast, the authors found no evidence that suggests that households reduce child schooling to cope with shocks. Findings also indicate that poor households are more likely to use child labor and schooling reduction as strategies to cope with socioeconomic shocks.
Résumé Dans le présent article, nous analysons l'utilité des réactions des citoyens pour évaluer la qualité des services de l'eau à León, au Nicaragua. C'est sur la base de modèles logit ordonnés généralisés que nous allons présenter une évaluation exhaustive de la satisfaction des usagers à l'égard des caractéristiques des services de l'eau. Nous allons également examiner les asymétries potentielles dans les réactions des usagers par rapport à leur perception relative de l'efficacité des services. Les observations indiquent que la satisfaction des citoyens varie davantage en fonction des caractéristiques de base des services que des données sociodémographiques, et qu'il importe de relativiser les choses. Les usagers ont tendance à exagérer leur frustration lorsqu'ils ont le sentiment de bénéficier de services de l'eau de moindre qualité par rapport à leurs pairs, et à minimiser leur satisfaction lorsqu'ils ont le sentiment de bénéficier de services de meilleure qualité. Remarques à l'intention des praticiens Sur la base des données présentées dans le présent article, les enquêtes auprès des citoyens peuvent servir d'outil complémentaire pour améliorer les services de l'eau, en particulier dans les endroits où les usagers de ce service public n'ont pas voix au chapitre et où il n'existe aucun autre moyen de faire face à des services de mauvaise qualité. Les résultats des enquêtes menées auprès des citoyens doivent cependant être interprétés avec prudence, étant donné que les usagers ont tendance à exagérer leur frustration lorsqu'ils estiment bénéficier de services de moindre qualité que leurs pairs. Les politiques basées sur des enquêtes menées auprès des citoyens devraient tenir compte de cette asymétrie potentielle dans la satisfaction des citoyens, en particulier dans les endroits caractérisés par une efficacité du service hétérogène.
This article investigates the validity of citizen feedback to evaluate the quality of water services in León, Nicaragua. Using generalized ordered logit models, this study presents a comprehensive evaluation of user satisfaction from water service characteristics. Potential asymmetries in the response of user satisfaction to relative perception of service performance are also investigated. Findings indicate that citizen satisfaction is based on basic service characteristics rather than socio-demographics, and that relativity matters. Users tend to overemphasize their frustration if they perceive that they have lower quality of water services than their peers, and understate their satisfaction if they perceive that they have better services. Points for practitioners Based on the evidence presented in this article, citizen surveys can be used as a tool to improve water services, particularly in places where public service users have no voice and alternatives to cope with low quality services do not exist. However, citizen survey results should be carefully interpreted given that users overemphasize their frustration if they perceive that they have lower quality of services than their peers. Policy design based on citizen surveys should take into account this potential asymmetry in citizen satisfaction, particularly in places with heterogeneous service performance.
AbstractChoice models and a referendum format contingent valuation survey are used to investigate household preferences for improved water services and decentralization levels (actual departmental administration vs. further decentralization to the municipality) in urban Matiguás, Nicaragua. Choice models suggest that households prefer the current departmental administration over municipal provision for service and capacity, but believe that the municipality would be more interested in improving services. Results also indicate that households are willing to pay an increment of at least 112 per cent above their current monthly water bill for reliable and safe drinking water services, regardless of administration type.
Capítulo 1. Un futuro que se repite: violencia, regeneración y modernización en la historia contemporánea de Guatemala / J. T. Way, Georgia State University -- Capítulo 2. The state of rights and multiculturalism in 21st century Guatemala: National and local contexts / C. James MacKenzie, University of Lethbridge -- Capítulo 3. Configuración del sistema guatemalteco / Gema Sánchez Medero, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Rubén Sánchez Medero, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid -- Capítulo 4. Guatemalas predicament: Electoral democracy without political parties / Omar Sánchez-Sibony, Texas State University -- Capítulo 5. Nos ven como terroristas porque defendemos las tierras que ellos invadían. Conflictos sobre la gestión de los recursos naturales en el noroccidente de Guatemala / Elisabet Dueholm Rasch, Universidad de Wageningen -- Capítulo 6. Harvesting Structural Violence: Clientelist Exchange in San Pedro Necta, Huehuetenango / Nicholas Copeland, VirginiaTech -- Capítulo 7. La gestión de los servicios comunitarios de agua potable en Guatemala / William F. Vásquez, Fairfield University -- Capítulo 8. Violencia contra la mujer en Guatemala: más impunidad que castigo / David Carey Jr., University of Loyola -- Capítulo 9. Guatemala: la geopolítica en red / Emilio Sánchez Rojas, CESEDEN -- Capítulo 10. Poder local, incidencia política y gobernabilidad en temas de justicia ambiental, defensa del territorio y derechos de los pueblos indígenas en Guatemala / Eduardo Arranz Bueso, Universidad de Alicante
