DO SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS INFLUENCE HOUSEHOLDS’ WILLINGNESS-TO-PAY FOR IMPROVED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICES? EVIDENCE FROM GHANA

Abstract

Generally, studies on households’ willingness-to-pay for improved solid waste management services by economists have concentrated on external variables which include education, income, among others, such that the effect of socio-psychological factors like attitude, social norms and perceived behavioural control are weakly understood. This study examined the effect of both external and socio-psychological factors on households’ willingness-to-pay for improved solid waste management services in Accra and Tamale metropolises in Ghana. The estimation results from the Tobit regression model indicated that sex of head of household, educational attainment of head of household, total household income, occupation type of head of household, level of satisfaction with solid waste collection services, attitude, subjective norm and location of household significantly influenced households’ willingness-to- pay for improved solid waste management services in the entire study area. Acknowledging the fact that willingness-to-pay is dependent on different factors, the study cautions against adopting one-size fit all policies.