Search

Plastic pollution causing the near-permanent contamination of the environment is a preeminent concern. The largest market sector for plastic resins is packaging, and the food industry plays a major role in producing plastic packaging waste. Therefore, the gradual switch of the food system towards pro-environmental packaging strategies is required to contain the plastic packaging waste issue. To this extent, this study aimed to investigate how food consumers relatively value the provision of different sustainable packaging alternatives, namely the unpackaged option and bioplastic packaging. Moreover, to shed light on the behavioural mechanism underlying the decision-making process for sustainable packaging, we considered two different decision paradigms: the traditional random utility maximization and random regret minimization framework. Overall, our results indicate that consumer tastes are highly heterogeneous and that preference patterns change according to the behavioural approach assumed by individuals. Policymakers and marketers of food industries need to carefully consider the differences in the decision mechanism of consumers when implementing strategies to encourage pro-environmental food choices. Notably, our findings elucidate on the importance to embrace other perspectives as well, and not simply limit to utility maximization, to fully comprehend the decision-making process of consumers for sustainable foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about the sustainability of their purchases. The coffee industry has been a leader in developing initiatives that promote the adoption of sustainable practices along the value chain. Labels on coffee packages that denote sustainable attributes are intended to inform the consumer and encourage sustainable consumption. The main objective of this study was to analyze consumers' knowledge of, and preference for sustainable labels (Fairtrade, Organic USDA, Rain Forest Alliance, and 4C) on coffee in Honduras, a developing low-income and high-quality coffee exporting country. The study also evaluated the consumer's visual attention to sustainable coffee labels. Data were collected using a questionnaire (including a choice experiment) from a sample of 450 consumers, as well as eye-tracking technology (a subsample of 65 consumers). Although Honduran coffee consumers have low levels of familiarity and knowledge about sustainable labels, they are willing to pay premiums for coffee with these labels (10% to 27% relative to average prices). Consumers pay more attention to the Organic USDA label, which is also the label with the highest willingness to pay value. Overall, the study's results indicate that there is a domestic market for coffee produced sustainably in Honduras. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing research based on labels, risks and benefits, and cultural differences has focused on consumers' preferences for genetically modified (GM) food products. Limited attention has been paid to the attitudes toward the source who developed the biotechnology. Because there may be trust issues associated with large multinational firms that are often involved in the development of biotechnology, it remains an unexplored question whether consumers consider who produces the technology when forming opinions about food produced with biotechnology. This study investigates consumers' attitude toward the source of biotechnology using a choice experiment with GM oranges. The study involved participants from three major orange-consuming countries (United States, Germany, and Spain). Results reveal that participants from all three countries were less willing to pay for GM oranges when the technology originated from multinational agribusiness corporations, compared to public universities and small companies. Further examining the effect of consumers' perceptions, we found consumers' perception of corporate distrust and environmental concern negatively influence their attitude toward the source of biotechnology, but their technology acceptance positively affects the attitude. By understanding consumers' attitudes about the source of biotechnology and factors that may improve the consumer reactions, communication and promotion of new biotechnology food products to improve acceptance from existing and potential consumers are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers are displaying an increasing awareness for the social and environmental impact of coffee production, and this is also reflected in their willingness to pay for sustainably produced coffee. For example, the Direct Trade label, which highlights a direct relationship between roasters and farmers, has gained popularity to strengthen the industry's efforts to make coffee production more sustainable. This leads to the question of whether consumers prefer coffee carrying this label. Hence, this research analyzes consumer preferences and willingness to pay for coffee labels representing sustainability efforts, such as the Direct Trade label. We informed participants about the efforts reflected by each sustainability label and utilized a hypothetical online choice experiment to determine US consumers' preferences and willingness to pay for coffee sustainability labels. The highest willingness to pay was found for coffee carrying both the Fair Trade and Organic labels, and the Direct Trade and Organic labels. The key findings of this study demonstrate that consumers are willing to pay more for sustainability labels that communicate efforts on solving social issues, followed by labels that highlight environmental issues. [EconLit Citation: C9]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Food choices profoundly affect one's dietary, nutritional and health outcomes. Using alcoholic beverages as a case study, the authors assess the potential of genetic data in predicting consumers' food choices combined with conventional socio-demographic data. Design/methodology/approach: A discrete choice experiment was conducted to elicit the underlying preferences of 484 participants from seven provinces in China. By linking three types of data (—data from the choice experiment, socio-demographic information and individual genotyping data) of the participants, the authors employed four machine learning-based classification (MLC) models to assess the performance of genetic information in predicting individuals' food choices. Findings: The authors found that the XGBoost algorithm incorporating both genetic and socio-demographic data achieves the highest prediction accuracy (77.36%), significantly outperforming those using only socio-demographic data (permutation test p-value = 0.033). Polygenic scores of several behavioral traits (e.g. depression and height) and genetic variants associated with bitter taste perceptions (e.g. TAS2R5 rs2227264 and TAS2R38 rs713598) offer contributions comparable to that of standard socio-demographic factors (e.g. gender, age and income). Originality/value: This study is among the first in the economic literature to empirically demonstrate genetic factors' important role in predicting consumer behavior. The findings contribute fresh insights to the realm of random utility theory and warrant further consumer behavior studies integrating genetic data to facilitate developments in precision nutrition and precision marketing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the consumers purchasing behaviour on Short Food Supply Chains (SFSC) using a choice experiment for extra virgin olive oil, as one of the most regularly food supplied through SFSC in Spain, and a cluster analysis to segment consumers by their perceptions and behavior. Results reveal that consumers` distribution channel preferences are similar although there is a negative reaction to online purchasing. Additionally, since there are consumers willing to pay more for local and organic food, opens opportunities for SFSC development. Hence, the implementation of policies encouraging the use of eco-environmental labeling, can foster SFSC development.

Societal Impact Statement Although significant advances have been made in implementing international mechanisms to support the benefit sharing of natural resources in low and middle income countries, there are limited practical examples. Our research examines how the ornamental horticulture sector might be able to meet its benefit sharing requirements. Employing a consumer survey, we reveal the potential for monetary benefit sharing to emerge for plants with Known Wild Provenance. Our results indicate that although consumers value plants that have their Known Wild Provenance clearly labelled, the magnitude of this estimate is insufficient to generate meaningful monetary benefits. Summary The global trade in ornamental plants is significant and growing. Historically, the relationship between the acquisition of novel plants from the wild for use in ornamental horticulture has been referred to as plant hunting. However, questions are now being raised about the ethical utilisation of biological resources and if those countries providing access to material from the wild are receiving adequate benefits. It is in this context that we examine if plants of Known Wild Provenance (KWP) are valued by UK consumers, and if a potential premium could be the basis of a benefit‐sharing agreement. Employing a choice experiment, we assess consumers' preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for KWP. Our analysis reveals that KWP did not prove to be a strong driver for plant buyers. Although a positive WTP is generated it is relatively small. Thus, the ability of commercial horticulture to provide monetary benefits to support benefit sharing is likely limited. This result raises questions as to how benefit sharing might then be implemented if buyers of plants are not prepared to pay a price premium.

Background: Patients with non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) that is unresponsive to bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy face a difficult choice. Immediate radical cystectomy (RC) is effective but might represent overtreatment. Continuing bladder preservation with medical therapy is an alternative, but it risks progression to muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and a reduction in survival. Objective: To understand the trade-offs patients are willing to make in selecting treatments for BCG-unresponsive NMIBC. Design, setting, and participants: Adults with NMIBC from the UK, France, Germany, and Canada who reported current receipt of BCG, disease unresponsive to BCG, or receipt of RC in the previous 12 mo after failure of BCG were recruited to participate in an online choice experiment. Patients were asked to make repeated choices between two hypothetical medical treatments and the option to undergo immediate RC. The medical treatments required trade-offs between the time to RC, the mode and frequency of administration, the risk of experiencing serious side effects, and the risk of disease progression. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: Error component logit models were used to calculate relative attribute importance (RAI) scores as the maximum percentage contribution to a preference and acceptable benefit-risk trade-offs. Results and limitations: Most of the 107 participants (average age 63 yr) never selected RC (89%) as their preferred option in the choice experiment. Preferences were most affected by time to RC (RAI 55%), followed by risk of progressing to MIBC (RAI 25%), medication administration (RAI 12%), and the risk of serious side effects (RAI 8%). To increase the time to RC from 1 yr to 6 yr, patients accepted a 43.8% increase in the risk of progression and a 66.1% increase in the risk of serious side effects. Conclusions: Patients with BCG-treated NMIBC valued bladder-sparing treatments and were willing to make substantial benefit-risk trade-offs to delay RC. Patient summary: Adults with bladder cancer not invading the bladder muscle completed an online experiment in which they chose between hypothetical medications and bladder removal. The results show that patients would be willing to accept different risks associated with medications to delay bladder removal. Patients considered disease progression the most important risk of medicinal treatment.

Abstract On-farm product differentiation represents a valuable opportunity for mountain agriculture. Consumers appreciate mountain products’ characteristics, but when signalling instruments are lacking, consumers might not be able to recognize (and pay for) them. Through a choice experiment, this paper considers consumers’ willingness to pay for three attributes (mountain origin through the EU Mountain Product term; local endangered landrace; agroecosystems stewardship through rotational grazing). It considers lamb meat production and North-Eastern Italian consumers, also exploring attitudes towards food and differences across groups of consumers. The highest willingness to pay is associated with the EU Mountain Product term, but communication strategies and public information provision are needed to enhance consumers’ overall knowledge.

Abstract The biodiversity and climate crises demand ambitious policies lowering the environmental impacts of farming. Most current interventions incentivise so‐called land‐sharing approaches to address the widespread trade‐off between farm yields and on‐farm environmental outcomes by compensating farmers who adopt yield‐reducing interventions that encourage wildlife or reduce net emissions within farmed land. Here, we present the first quantification of the likely costs to taxpayers of land sharing compared with land sparing, in which large areas are removed from production altogether because of high‐yielding practices elsewhere in the landscape. Focusing on arable production in the United Kingdom, we used a choice experiment to explore farmer preferences and estimated the overall costs of contrasting agri‐environment schemes that delivered increased populations of three well‐studied farmland birds and reduced net carbon emissions in England. We included capital, administration and monitoring costs, and lost food production. Sparing delivered our target biodiversity and carbon emission outcomes at 79% of the food production cost and 48% of the taxpayer cost of sharing. The difference in subsidy payments required by farmers roughly tracked lost food production but other costs favoured sparing even more strongly. The cost‐related merits of sparing would probably increase further in studies incorporating (1) the many species and ecosystem services not deliverable on farmland, (2) the costs of food imports to compensate domestic lost production and (3) countries without as long and extensive a history of agriculture as the United Kingdom. Our results suggest that, for at least some conservation outcomes, continuing a land‐sharing approach in countries such as the United Kingdom is not only an inefficient use of government funds but also undermines conservation and food security in food‐exporting countries which bear the burden of compensating domestic production forgone in the name of conservation. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Since microgreens entered the market in the 1980s and 1990s, their use has expanded far beyond high-end restaurants. Most microgreens are grown in greenhouses with supplemental lighting (i.e., artificial lighting in addition to sunlight). Supplemental lighting usually includes high-pressure sodium (HPS) or light-emitting diodes (LEDs). HPS is the most common type of supplemental lighting, while LEDs are becoming more common. This article examines consumer preference and willingness to pay (WTP) for microgreens grown with LED lighting compared with HPS lighting and sunlight in the presence of different amounts and types of information. We find that negative information harms WTP, and positive information has little to no impact on WTP. We also examine how other attributes (i.e., price, location produced, production type, location purchased) impact WTP.

This paper examined consumers’ experiences in and preferences for plant-based meat (PBM) food and their respective correlates, based on data from an online survey of 579 consumers in four major cities in China in early 2021. We first described consumers’ experiences in consuming and purchasing PBM food and their correlates, and then analyzed consumer preferences using hypothetical choice experiment. The experiment offered consumers various options to purchase burgers made from PBM or animal-based meat (ABM), combined with different countries of origin (COO), taste labels, and prices. Our data showed that respondents hold overall positive attitudes toward PBM food; 85 and 82% of respondents reported experience in eating and purchasing PBM food, respectively. More than half of them ate PBM food because they wanted to try new food (58%), or were interested in healthy food (56%). Income, religion, and dietary restrictions were significantly correlated with consumers’ experiences in PBM food consumption. Results from the Random Parameter Logit Model based on the hypothetical choice experiment data showed that 79% of respondents chose PBM burgers and were willing to pay an average of 88 CNY for a PBM burger. We also found that 99.8 and 83% of respondents are willing to buy burgers made in China and those with a taste label, with a willingness to pay (WTP) of 208 and 120 CNY, respectively. The heterogeneity test revealed that females and those with at least a bachelor’s degree, higher income, religious beliefs, and dietary restrictions are more likely to buy PBM burgers than their counterparts.

While economics has long recognized concern for others (e.g. altruism and bequest motives), explicit inclusion of social network metrics in non market valuation models is relatively recent. Social network effects on willingness to pay can propagate through the entire network and bias willingness to pay (WTP) estimates. However, social networks are complex systems of relationships between individuals, and measuring them can be difficult. We explored the potential for egocentric social network (ESN) measures to help explain variations in preference for the status quo. Using simulated random networks, we demonstrate that respondents more likely to choose an alternative to the status quo are part of more dense ESNs. A strong influence of an attitude toward the impact of economic development on the environmental goods and services is consistent with network structure and preference for environmental improvements being jointly determined.

In this study, we utilized the choice experiment (CE) method to evaluate the effectiveness of different solid waste management (SWM) programs in promoting adaptive capacity toward carbon reduction. We investigated three hypothetical scenarios for SWM programs, including the waste warriors program, carbon credits for waste reduction, and the carbon-trade SWM program. Our analysis unveiled distinct preferences among citizen groups regarding adaptive SWM programs. Incorporating nature-based solutions (NbS) within the study further enhances our understanding of the relationship between adaptive capacity and SWM. NbS approaches leverage natural processes and ecosystems to address environmental challenges, including climate impacts. By engaging citizens in comparing management options regarding climate impacts, our study fosters a greater understanding of the efficacy of different SWM approaches. Citizen participation plays a crucial role in identifying novel and innovative SWM solutions that effectively mitigate climate impacts. This collaborative involvement facilitates knowledge exchange, empowers communities, and strengthens adaptive capacity. The findings of our study offer valuable insights into SWM practices, policy development, and decision-making processes. By prioritizing adaptive SWM programs that align with citizen preferences and incorporating NbS principles, we can develop more effective strategies for carbon reduction.

Objective: This study evaluates the effects of traffic light (TL) nutritional label attributes on children's food choices. Data were collected from a survey of 1179 Ecuadorian students attending public middle and high school in three major cities in the country's southern region (Machala, Loja, and Zamora). The survey instrument included two sets of choice experiments: one with yogurt products and the other with soft drinks (sodas and juices). In the choice scenarios, children were presented with two products that differed in price and the TL label colors for sugar, salt, and fat. Children's product selections in the choice experiments were analyzed using mixed logit models. The results indicate that labels affect food choices. Additionally, children are willing to pay increasing premium levels for products with yellow, green, and "does not contain" labels compared to products with red labels. Overall, the study's findings offer evidence that TL labels are effective in helping children make food choices consistent with their preferences for food products with TL labels representing healthier alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn is a major staple crop known for its nutritional value and versatility in industrial applications. Climate change threatens sustainable production, making understanding farmers' preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for desirable traits crucial in seed selection. This study employs the Choice Experiment (CE) to assess the importance of key attributes, including yield potential, disease resistance, yield under water stress conditions, and price. The evaluation was conducted in Italy on a sample of 31 producers in the Lombardy region, where corn cultivation occupies 50% of the arable land, and the national annual volume equals about 11 million tons. Results indicate that yield under water stress conditions is the most critical attribute reflecting the need for high productivity to cope with yield fluctuations and production costs induced by climate change. The significance of this study lies in its ability to provide insights into farmers' preferences and their priorities for maize seed attributes, which in turn offer invaluable decision support to seed breeding programs. This contribution not only promotes the development of improved corn traits and varieties for sustainable production and global food security but also guides resilient investment decisions and effective marketing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Government rebates provide monetary incentives to encourage consumers' adoption of ecofriendly technologies. Understanding how consumers perceive the value of rebate is crucial to policy makers. We use the smart irrigation system as an example and design choice experiments that present rebates in two formats: the total device cost and the cost consumers needed to pay versus the total device cost and the rebate value. We find that consumers discount the value of the rebate more when presented with rebate value. Additionally, the framing of incentives has a spillover effect on the perceived value of a seemingly unrelated attribute (i.e., water saving). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genomic enhanced expected progeny differences (GE-EPDs) combine expected progeny differences (EPDs) with DNA information to improve EPD accuracy values. In 2020, Tennessee cattle producers completed a between-subjects choice experiment for bulls marketed with either EPDs or GE-EPDs. Panel Tobit regression results indicate that, on average across all considered EPDs, producers were not willing to pay significantly more for GE-EPDs than for EPDs. However, producers were willing to pay more for the calving ease direct EPD if it was genomic enhanced. This is the first known study to evaluate producers' value of improved accuracy scores associated with GE-EPDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the majority of previous assessment perspectives on tourism carrying capacity are limited by "the number of visitors", this paper develops an innovative approach from the "visitors' experience utility" perspective. Using the choice experiment method, tourism carrying capacity is assessed by exploring the marginal utility and sensitivity of visitors to changes in recreational attributes. Xian-Ren-Tai National Forest Park in China is employed as the case park to demonstrate the application of this assessment method. The conclusions are as follows: the carrying capacity threshold of the crowding level in this urban forest park ranges from 20–35 people/100 m2, the threshold of "vegetation coverage" ranges from 70% to 80%, and the "number of garbage" is 3–10 pieces/200 m. The acceptable traffic accessibility level for visitors is within 3 h. At present, Xian-Ren-Tai National Forest Park as a whole is in a state of "low carrying capacity", there are potential risks of underutilization in this park. In addition, this paper provides the carrying capacity state of 27 potential recreational attribute sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although various methodological biases have been shown, the choice experiment (CE) literature has confirmed the relevance of sustainability in consumers' purchase choices. Analysing 186 case studies through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, this study defines the state-of-the-art and future perspectives of the CE approach, allowing us—for the first time—to evaluate in a single study all variables to be considered for setting up the CE questionnaire, with a focus on the selection of attributes and levels, maximising the reliability of the result, and minimising potential method biases. This paper defines a standardised workflow to expand and refine a sustainability perspective that can potentially drive cross-cutting CEs in every consumer good by investigating the accuracy of characteristics driving the willingness to pay (WTP) a premium price for greener consumer goods. Most of the studies analysed in this article concern food products (92%), and around half (51%) focus on sustainability-related aspects, frequently described in generic terms. The results show how defining an adequate number and type of attributes and levels characterising the target product is crucial for a bias-reduced study. These need to be concrete and familiar, and using labels is essential to enhance informed choice, with sustainability being a far-reaching concept with multifaceted definitions. Moreover, choosing a neutral target product, defining the correct sample size, selecting a balanced and representative group of respondents, and using the right analysis model can also minimise potential bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change represents a serious challenge for winter tourism. Its economic and managerial impacts will differ between season periods due to the seasonality of snow availability and tourism demand. Therefore, the interaction of these two types of seasonality has to be modelled. With a novel approach including seasonality of demand, timing of marginal snow conditions, individual preferences and skiing frequency, we simulate impacts of altered snow conditions on skiing demand with data from a discrete choice experiment (n = 1312) conducted in Austria. Snow conditions explain 41% of overall importance of ski area attributes. Distinct patterns of seasonal skiing demand exist that differ with respect to individual skiing days and preferences. Identical snow conditions occurring in different season periods cause demand declines that differ by a factor of 20. The presented construction kit allows investigating economic impacts in combination with different climate change scenarios for weather dependent forms of tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personal carbon allowances (PCAs) can complement current carbon pricing policies to achieve the sharp cut in emissions needed to meet the climate targets set by the Paris Agreement. While their effectiveness crucially depends on their social acceptability, there is little evidence on which specific characteristics of their design are preferred by citizens and how these preferences might differ within a society. Our study aims at eliciting preferences for a specific PCA scheme and explores their heterogeneity, using a discrete choice experiment among Belgian citizens and analyzing mixed logit and latent class models. Discrete choice experiments are a widely used tool to deliver key insights to policy design, but have rarely been used in the context of a PCA design. We find that intergenerational differences are important factors to explain citizens' willingness to accept a PCA, with younger people strongly in favour. A PCA that includes carbon price regulations and provides tailor-made advice on how to reduce carbon emissions, is more likely to be accepted. However, purchase limits for emission thresholds beyond which a tax is imposed should be carefully introduced, as we find large heterogeneity across citizens' willingness to accept this. These differences are correlated with current emission and income levels, and awareness about PCA. Our study is a first step in designing and developing a PCA, as investigating its social acceptability is a prerequisite before actual implementation. Key policy insights Large intergenerational differences in the social acceptability of a PCA exist, with younger people strongly in favour. Carbon price regulations increase social acceptability, either through minimum and maximum prices or through a fixed price by experts. Provision of tailor-made advice to reduce personal carbon impact increases social acceptability. Introduction of purchase limits for emission thresholds, beyond which a tax is imposed, needs to be complemented by additional measures to ensure climate justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop a choice experiment (CE) to estimate the benefits of nutrient reductions in the US Corn Belt. The study area covers Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa, the three states that contribute the largest amount of nutrients to the Gulf of Mexico and whose nutrient reductions are vital to achieving targets to reduce the hypoxic dead zone in the Gulf. We find that the public places large values on various local ecosystem services, including aquatic biodiversity, aesthetics of increased farm landscape diversity associated with conservation practices, and water-based recreational activities. Moreover, the results indicate that upstream residents have a strong preference for water quality far downstream in the Gulf of Mexico as characterized by reducing the size of the dead zone. Our analysis of observed taste heterogeneity indicates that public preferences vary depending on familiarity with nutrient pollution issues, users versus non-users of local ecosystem services, and different age groups. Our findings inform policies to improve water quality in the Gulf of Mexico and local water bodies in the US Corn Belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, finance has paid attention to the risk-return trade-off. Recently, given the incorporation of the 2030 Agenda and climate change, a third pillar has been incorporated into the investment decision: sustainability. Socially responsible investment is an instrument that can incorporate all three pillars. This paper aims to assess sustainability by Spanish investors using a choice experiment by applying the Bayesian approach with Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling and obtain the willingness to pay (invest) for each attribute. The results show that profitability remains the most important factor, although risk is at the same level as sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reference price depends on the context of purchase. For prices in preference elicitation experiments to be interpreted by respondents exactly as prices in real purchases, a condition must be met: Contextual reference prices in experiments and real purchases must equal. Using a choice experiment, we found that the willingness to pay estimates tend to be smaller when the respondents are reminded about their self‐reported reference price of the product. This shows that the equality of reference price between experiments and real purchases may not hold. Thus, willingness to pay estimated from a choice experiment may only be contextually specific to its setting. The theory of contextual reference price may offer a fresh perspective on hypothetical bias, and it may be useful in refining choice experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For some types of seafood, such as clams, there are now sustainability certificates that guarantee their sustainable production. However, their consumption may be associated with some ethical and sustainability concerns, as clams are harvested in ways that may be harmful to the environment. The aim of this study is therefore to investigate consumers' sustainability concerns based on their purchasing preferences and WTP for clams with sustainability certification in three Mediterranean countries—Italy, Spain and Croatia. Data were collected online and consumer preferences were elicited using a labelled discrete choice experiment. The results show that in general all consumers prefer clams from their country of origin, while there are differences in their appreciation for the sustainability certification. While Croatian consumers are not very interested in the current Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) sustainability certification, consumers in Spain are willing to pay a higher price for it. At the same time, consumers in Italy are more interested in new certifications such as Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM). These results could be of interest to clam production and distribution companies trying to advance their corporate social responsibility activities and positioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eco-labels are an instrument for enabling informed food choices and supporting a demand-sided change towards an urgently needed sustainable food system. Lately, novel eco-labels that depict a product's environmental life cycle assessment on a multi-level scale are being tested across Europe's retailers. This study elicits consumers' preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for a multi-level eco-label. A Discrete Choice Experiment was conducted; a representative sample (n = 536) for the Austrian population was targeted via an online survey. Individual partworth utilities were estimated by means of the Hierarchical Bayes. The results show higher WTP for a positively evaluated multi-level label, revealing consumers' perceived benefits of colorful multi-level labels over binary black-and-white designs. Even a negatively evaluated multi-level label was associated with a higher WTP compared to one with no label, pointing towards the limited effectiveness of eco-labels. Respondents' preferences for eco-labels were independent from their subjective eco-label knowledge, health consciousness, and environmental concern. The attribute "protein source" was most important, and preference for an animal-based protein source (beef) was strongly correlated with consumers' meat attachment, implying that a shift towards more sustainable protein sources is challenging, and sustainability labels have only a small impact on the meat product choice of average consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to understand how Rwandan farmers value the improved characteristics of climate services introduced to them in a choice experiment setting. Data were collected from 1,525 household heads in November 2019. A random parameters logit model was used to analyze the data. Results suggest that Rwandan farmers value forecast accuracy, dissemination through a combination of extension agents and the Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture process, and bundling with market price information. This study suggests that to improve agricultural management planning and food security of farmers through the provision of climate services, these services need to be accurate, user-tailored, and accessible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the renewed interest in promoting healthy soils in agricultural production via practices such as cover crops, decreased fumigations, or biological fertilizers, this article explores U.S. potato farmers' preferences for soil health-related production practices. We conduct a discrete choice experiment (DCE) under which hypothetical practices varied based on their effect on pests, fertilizer requirements, irrigation needs, additional soil testing/education, and expected net returns. Surveys were deployed to potato growers using convenience sampling online—through practitioner journals—and in person—at industry meetings. Standard descriptive statistics of the sample are presented and the DCE experiment was analyzed using a mixed multinomial logit model. Results suggest that when considering a new practice, farmers are highly sensitive to changes in net returns (p ​

Wolves will soon be reintroduced in Colorado based on a statewide ballot initiative that narrowly passed in November 2020. Using an economic choice experiment, we estimate the benefits that wolf introduction might bring to Colorado. We calculated willingness to pay (WTP) for a sustainable wolf population by considering six program attributes: 1) state wolf population, 2) compensation for livestock-related losses, 3) cost-sharing for conflict reduction, 4) number of livestock killed statewide, 5) lethal government control of wolves, and 6) wolf hunting. Respondents who reported they voted yes on the ballot initiative had a positive WTP for a population of 200 wolves, referred to as the minimum sustainable population in the survey, but WTP diminished for larger populations. Preferences for a population of 200 wolves amounts to an annual WTP of approximately $31.1 million when extrapolating to all yes-voting households statewide. In contrast, respondents who reported they voted no would have to be paid to accept wolf populations. We also found statistically significant preferences for other attributes of the management program, such as cost sharing for conflict reduction measures to livestock producers or compensating livestock losses. When these attributes were included, the willingness to pay increased to $115 million statewide among yes-voting households. We estimated a $57.5 to $1 benefit-cost ratio for a sustainable wolf population. However, benefits and costs are not evenly distributed across urban and rural residents, which suggests that mechanisms to transfer resources from those willing to pay to those that incur costs would be needed to balance that distribution.

Food safety scandals have heightened the general public concern about food quality, safety, and environmental friendliness in food markets globally. Several studies have ascertained that consumers are willing to pay a premium price for food products with quality and safety information labels. However, most of these studies are country-specific, while few studies have investigated consumer preferences in a comparative context. In this study, we employed the Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) to examine 1,900 Chinese and 2,986 Thai consumers’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) for brand, traceability, and green and organic certification labels on rice. A mixed logit model (MXL) was used to compute consumers’ WTP. The results demonstrate that consumers from both countries preferred green and organic certified labels. However, Chinese consumers’ preference for green and organic certified rice outweighs that of Thai consumers. For brand labels and green and organic certifications, Thai consumers are willing to pay more than the Chinese due to awareness and trust. However, Chinese consumers are willing to pay more for information with traceability labels than Thai consumers because of the increase in household income and health consciousness. The MXL also shows that trust, income, and age are factors associated with consumers’ preferences for certified rice in both countries. To boost consumers’ preferences for certified rice, relevant stakeholders need to implement the use of brand labels, traceability, and certification labels in the rice value chain.

Weighing cultural legacies is crucial to better understand the opportunity costs of lagoon restoration. It may be necessary for local populations whose wellbeing and culture are closely linked to heritage. This paper investigates the preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) of local fishermen for contributing to the restoration of the Bizerte lagoon (Tunisia, North Africa) and the management of the Manzel Abderrahmen harbor through the implementation of the EcoPact project. For this purpose, a discrete choice experiment (DCE) survey was conducted in the port with 50 local fishers. The results of this work represent a particular contribution to the literature as they offer a different perspective on the willingness to pay for the benefits of Cultural Bequest. Manzel Abderrahmen fishermen view “port organization” as an economic, cultural, and recreational attribute that drives their choices. The fishermen showed their willingness to accept all the taxes mentioned in the questionnaire and to increase the actual tax (9%) up to 13% over 5 years to complete the design of their port. This suggests that decision-makers should be aware of the omitted legacy values that could influence subsequent decision-making.

This study proposes a data-based strategy for prioritizing sewerage services and developing consumer-centric asset management systems. Sewerage systems are essential infrastructure, but resource-intensive, and governments have faced challenges due to limited budgets and aging facilities. Most countries are still in the early stages of adopting consumer-centric approaches. By using the mixed logit model, this study identified heterogeneous service preferences among consumers based on their priority for physical and social services. Groups who attributed their importance to physical services were more sensitive to sewerage bills; however, those who emphasized social services were more interested in water activity environment improvement and odor intensity reduction. This study also showed that people are willing to pay USD 10 for odor intensity reduction and USD 6 for water activities improvement on average, but those who prioritized sinkhole reduction and flood reduction answered less willingness to pay for each service improvement. Applying these heterogeneous service preferences to service improvement strategies can lead not only to higher consumer satisfaction and lower economic burden, but also to a deeper understanding of residents' willingness to pay for service improvement in certain service preference areas. Therefore, the results contribute to the development of sustainable asset management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use a discrete choice experiment with treatments to test if voluntary adoption of smart water meters by French farmers can be fostered by (i) a collective conditional subsidy offered to farmers who adopt a smart meter only if the rate of adoption in their geographic area is sufficiently high and (ii) informational nudges. Using a sample of 1,272 farmers, we find contrasted results regarding our nudges, but we show that a conditional subsidy is an effective tool to foster adoption of smart meters. Interestingly, the willingness to pay for the conditional subsidy is equal to the subsidy amount and independent of the collective adoption threshold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the need for food safety rises, consumers are becoming more interested in certified safe pork products, such as those with safety certification or traceability. Implementing GAHP guidelines for pig farming is one potential approach to achieving food safety in Vietnam. Nevertheless, since GAHP requires a relatively substantial initial investment, its adoption is mostly determined by the economic feasibility of pig farming. A choice experiment was used in this study to investigate farmers' preferences for adopting GAHP in pig farming in Vietnam. The findings show that pig farmers are strongly inclined to adopt GAHP if specific conditions are met. The presence of guaranteed output contracts, increased yields, and price premiums are important variables influencing their decision to implement GAHP. The findings could be used by policymakers to develop and implement supportive regulations to encourage GAHP adoption, while buyers, processors, and retailers can capitalize on pig farmers' preferences by establishing and publicizing market channels for GAHP-certified products. Furthermore, these findings could be used to assist pig farmers in making informed choices about their farming practices, allowing them to analyze the possibility of getting output contracts, implementing productivity-boosting initiatives, and exploring market potential for GAHP-certified pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to investigate people's preferences for the geographical distance between residential locales and two types of urban agricultural land, namely, traditional agricultural land and a more complex and intensive agricultural landscape called "satoyama" and to evaluate the heterogeneity in people's preferences. The enhancement of urban sustainability is a crucial issue in sustainable development that can be potentially improved by urban agriculture. However, urban residents' perceptions and preferences regarding the distance between urban agricultural land and their locales remain unclear, and concrete measures to maintain and expand urban agriculture are still vague. Therefore, an online survey and choice experiment was conducted, with respondents from Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan, who are assumed to be familiar with the agricultural context. Mixed logit and latent class logit models were employed to evaluate urban residents' heterogeneous perceptions and preferences. The results reveal that: (1) urban residents generally prefer urban agricultural land in areas away from their residence; (2) preferences are diverse, and those who are relatively young, with higher income, and more environmentally conscious favor dwelling near urban agricultural land; (3) there is a quadratic relationship between the distance connecting people's locales and urban agricultural land, and thus, the most desirable distance exists; and (4) there is a difference in the proximity that people prefer between traditional agricultural land and satoyama. Based on the results, policy implications for urban planners and policymakers include implementing urban agriculture in peri-urban areas and handling a tradeoff between residential opposition and the intensity of urban agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Estudios Gerenciales is the property of Universidad ICESI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research has investigated Italian consumers’ preferences for and purchasing behaviors of strawberries utilizing the Best–Worst Scaling methodology (BWS). This approach enables the key factors that influence strawberry purchasing decisions to be identified and different choice groups to be characterized. To achieve this goal, a survey was conducted on a sample of 496 respondents living in the metropolitan area of Milan (North Italy). The declared preferences of the individuals for 12 strawberry characteristics, divided into intrinsic, extrinsic, and credence attributes, were first measured. A Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was then performed to identify different clusters of consumers according to the individuals’ preferences. Subsequently, the heterogeneity of the clusters was tested, using the Chi-square test, and sociodemographic characteristics and purchasing habits were considered. The results suggest that the most important attribute in the choice of strawberries was appearance, highlighting the importance of preserving it throughout the supply chain, followed by one of the increasingly important aspects of diets, which is health benefits. The attribute considered the least important was the brand. This study demonstrates, from a holistic point of view, that sociodemographic characteristics, food habits, and perceptions of different strawberry attributes influence consumers’ preferences and behaviors. Practical implications suggest a new prospective for communication marketing strategies for producers, creating a better brand identity and highlighting in their marketing all of the aspects that consumers would like to know about the fruits they choose as quality certifications.

A discrete choice experiment was conducted to assess the perceptions and willingness-to-pay of Italian consumers regarding plant diagnosis and sustainable cultivation attributes in outdoor ornamental plants, specifically Abelia × grandiflora. The results revealed that most Italian consumers place great importance on the health of ornamental plants during the purchasing process, with a preference for obtaining them from nursery facilities. Additionally, they demonstrated a willingness to pay a price premium for innovative plant diagnosis and sustainable cultivation in the production of A. × grandiflora, amounting to EUR 1.10 and EUR 0.90, respectively. These findings have significant implications for (i) nursery growers, enabling them to shape their sustainable nursery management and marketing strategies, and (ii) policymakers, facilitating the enhancement of communication strategies and the implementation of awareness campaigns aimed at promoting the sale of healthy Italian ornamental species, following the current EU regulation 2020/1201.

The importance of understanding people's preferences and the well-being of river systems cannot be overstated when it comes to the effective restoration and long-term management of these systems. This study aimed to determine the preferences of people in the Hei River Basin of China regarding the conservation, restoration, and development of ecological systems and their associated services. The research utilized a combination of random parameter logit models for distance decay. The study collected data using a choice experiment method and separated the study area into three distance-based groups: group I (within 25 km), group II (25 to 50 km), and group III (beyond 50 km). The findings showed that there was spatial heterogeneity among the people, with a higher willingness to pay for high-quality agricultural production and the lowest willingness to pay for oasis. The results revealed a complex pattern of spatial heterogeneity and indicated the need for increased awareness programs, environmental education, and the promotion of social responsibility towards environmental protection. It is essential to implement environmental policies, restore properties, and preserve ecological systems to achieve sustainable development and a sustainable environment. The findings highlight the importance of considering spatial heterogeneity and the need for increased environmental awareness, education, and policy implementation. This research can contribute to developing effective strategies for the preservation of river systems and ensuring sustainable development and a sustainable environment.

A sustainable diet that respects planetary boundaries is becoming increasingly important. When purchasing food, labels are one way to communicate sustainability features of a food product to the consumer. Recently, more and more sustainability labels are coming on the market or are being developed and tested. Therefore, this research evaluates the provision of information about different labels addressing sustainability and the resulting differences in consumers' preferences and willingness to pay. Data were obtained from an online survey consisting of choice experiments to assess four sustainability labels (Nutri-Score, Eco-Score, nutrition claims, and organic labels) and price. In total, 1087 consumers took part in the online survey in Germany. Consumers exhibited a high preference for interpretative labels and nutrition claims. With further information provided, consumers’ preferences or avoidance were even stronger for the interpretative labels. However, interpretative labels worked remarkably well without providing additional information. The willingness to pay was highest for the Eco-Score A and Nutri-Score A. Furthermore, the label category C of the interpretative labels seemed to have no effect on consumer preference. These findings hold great potential for marketing of food products and companies pricing policies.

While the transmission of virus SARS‐CoV‐2 via food is rare, some Chinese food retailers are considering a Covid‐19‐tested food label. However, how consumers may support such a label is unknown. We quantify Chinese consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for food carrying a Covid‐19‐tested label using an online choice experiment. We find that the WTPs for such a label are always positive for all food products considered. The amount of WTP depends on the entities authenticating the labels, country of origin of the food, and consumers' socio‐demographic status. Contrary to expectation, the knowledge on Covid‐19 does not affect consumer preferences for the Covid‐19‐tested food labels. Our benefit and cost analysis suggests a possible large benefit of creating and administering a Covid‐19‐tested food label. This study provides insights for policymakers, global food manufacturers, and retailers to create marketing strategies to alleviate consumer food safety concerns associated with Covid‐19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]