Searching GEVAD
Information in GEVAD
GEVAD includes abstracts that summarize the main points and the results of valuation studies in order to support the user to identify the most relevant studies for conducting a benefit transfer. The information is contained in 23 different fields, namely: GEVAD Code Number, Author(s), Title, Reference, Country, Location, Date of reference, General and Specific Environmental Good or Service Valued, Activity involved, Environmental change, Location characteristics, Socio-economic characteristics, Type of survey, Date of survey, Valuation method, Survey size, Collection of information, Payment vehicle, Economic measure, Econometric model, Other information and Results.
The categories used are based on transfer criteria widely accepted in the benefit transfer literature, in order to facilitate the selection of "study sites" that will provide coherent transfers.
Browsing valuation studies
Using GEVAD for benefits transfer involves the following steps:
1. Define the characteristics that best match study sites to the case under investigation ("policy site").
2. Search for potential matches using the Searching Module by environmental good, country, etc.
3. Review the retrieved studies in order to evaluate their applicability.
4. Convert the original values to the country and year of the "policy site" by means of the Conversion tool.
The Searching Module helps the user to search the studies that fit best to the characteristics of the case under investigation, by defining four different categories of information:
- General environmental good
- Specific environmental good
- Geographic location
- Valuation method
The user may also search the database using the name of the first author. However, this option has been added mainly for statistical purposes.
After locating the studies, the GEVAD allows the user to review the studies on-line or to download the studies in pdf format. If necessary, the user may go back and refine the initial search.
At the final step, the values estimated by the original studies can be converted into today's values taking also into consideration transnational transfers.