Abstract
In this paper, risk tolerance with regard to nuclear waste is investigated. It is shown that Swedish respondents did not readily accept a local high-level nuclear waste repository, contrary to claims based on polling data. The important role played in Sweden by misleading survey questions is pointed out & demonstrated on empirical data where formulations & procedures are varied. The acceptance of a local repository (measured as intention to vote in its favor in a local referendum) could not be explained well by a cost-benefit approach or an individual risk perception model. Concern about the local community was an important determinant, however, & so were moral aspects. When these aspects were included in a model, about 60% of the variance of risk perception & risk acceptance was accounted for. Cultural Theory scale items, however, added virtually nothing to the explanatory power of the models. In further analyses, NIMBY respondents were identified, defined here as people who rejected a local repository in spite of having acknowledged substantial utility of nuclear power. NIMBYs constituted, however, only a small minority of all opposition to a local repository. Few respondents stated that they would accept a local repository if they were to be given financial compensation. This fact may be related to nuclear power issues being conceived as general, rather than personal, matters. Those who saw it as a politically important issue also conceived of it in general rather than personal terms. 5 Tables, 4 Figures, 18 References. Adapted from the source document.