Mgr Katarzyna Zagórska’s project, funded in the competition for research projects at CESS

31 01 2024

The project of Katarzyna Zagórska from the Faculty of Economic Sciences “Simulating complex and spatially explicit choice experiments: Using GIS data and survey data for comprehensive valuation of natural capital in Poland” was funded in the competition for research projects at the Centre of Excellence in Social Sciences.

The project received funding in the amount of 80 000,00 PLN.

Project description: Picture a world where the nature is an essential part of our well-being. In this world, governments understand that the natural surroundings aren’t just scenery—it’s a precious resource that deserves a place in their decision-making and our economic system. Getting there isn’t simple, but my project aims to respond to gaps in our understanding of how to use economic valuation of natural capital for better environmental policy making.

Objective 1: Unveiling value of natural capital
Within fields of economic valuation and environmental economic, we are constantly developing new methods for expressing the value that ecosystem services have for the general population. In this project, we use cutting-edge techniques of combining GIS data with survey data and using advances simulations techniques. Thus, we can present maps of Poland with valuation of natural capital.

Objectives 2 and 3: Addressing environmental policy concerns and allowing for international comparison
We are mapping out the value of the natural capital in Poland and beyond, making sure our insights can guide environmental policy making. Scientists from scientific research network REECAP are joining with results for their countries.

Objective 4: Inspiring the next generation of researchers
Education isn’t just about books and lectures; it’s about seeing the world from a new perspective. I’m planning to use real-world problems to teach students how environmental valuation, understanding of revealed preferences and utility function can change the world. By designing courses that let students experiment with economic valuation methods, I am showing them how to make science work for them and for society.

This project offers a mix of novel scientific tools and old-fashioned curiosity. Econometric simulations will help better understand the value of natural capital in Poland (end Europe). The simulations will combine choice experiments with GIS data. In choice experiments, I will be asking to make decisions that reveal how the value the nature. The GIS data will control for variation in landscapes. The result will be a neat map of Poland presenting aggregated willingness to pay for increase in High Value Nature and protected areas.