Contingent valuation applied to the National System of Public Libraries of Chile

Abstract

The objective of this work is to present the results of the application of the Contingent Valuation Method (MVC) in the National System of Public Libraries of Chile (SNBP). This study was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Bruce Seaman, allowing us to answer the question How can we value and economically express the social benefits of public libraries?

In this sense, the relevance of this study is that the MVC has been applied sparingly in Chile, an issue that contrasts with reality at the international level, and, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first time this technique has been applied with the In order to estimate the social benefits of public libraries in a Latin American country.

For the determination of the SNBP value, two main sources were used: Economic Value and Cultural Value, which in turn were disaggregated as follows.

• Value of use: related to the welfare derived from the direct consumption (use) of a particular good or service. To the extent that people are required to make a direct contribution, we will have observable information on the personal utility associated with the consumption (use) of that good or service. • Value of non-use (passive use value): related to the well-being that people derive from the mere fact of knowing that these goods exist and are available for future own consumption or of third parties: • Value option: people may be willing to pay to keep some goods in stock and retain a consumer choice. • Value of existence: people may be willing to pay to conserve some goods simply because they derive a utility.

From a representative national sample of libraries and users, it was possible to establish the economic valuation that the Chilean population makes with respect to the services provided by the National System of Public Libraries (SNBP).