Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Conflicts over wolf management in Germany and the species itself have become increasingly politicized, raising the question of whether wildlife management can influence voting behaviour. This thesis explores whether an alternative wolf management scheme based on ex-ante incentives could affect the voting preferences of German pastoral livestock owners. The study focuses on developing a suitable methodology to answer the research question and creating an adapted ex-ante incentive scheme inspired by Swedish carnivore management. A questionnaire was designed to collect data on demographics, wolf perceptions, and political affiliations. This was combined with a Vignette Design-Discrete Choice Experiment (VDCE), which framed the management proposals in radical-right, centre-right, and centre-left political styles while assessing preferences for specific management features. A pilot study tested the methodology, yielding 11 usable datasets. The study provided valuable insights into the practical challenges of reaching livestock owners and collecting sufficient responses. Though the dataset is limited, the findings suggest that ex-ante incentives could appeal to German livestock owners. However, significant refinement of the program design is necessary to address the remaining uncertainties. While this thesis demonstrates the complexity of linking wildlife management with political voting behaviour, it also highlights the potential of ex-ante incentives as a management tool. It underscores the importance of further research in this field.