Quality Policy and Consumer Behavior

Summary

A broad view of the European Union (EU) quality policy to the meat sector is given in this article. It analyses the links between quality policy and consumer attitudes and behavior in the Spanish meat market. Quality programs allow traceability within the chain, which is an important improvement, compared to the traditional way of marketing meat. For this reason, we study the evolution and performance of Spanish meat market from the view of consumer behavior. This paper mentions some basic information in quality policies in Spain, including the results of a survey carried out in 1997, with some practical conclusions.     

Anti-Waste Labeling and Consumer Willingness to Pay

ABSTRACT

Food waste is an important topic in the general context of food consumption sustainability and ethical consumption. Several studies have focused on environment-friendly labeling schemes based on different “ethical attributes,” such as organic, fair trade, and locally grown. However, the effect of a labeling scheme based on food waste prevention has never been studied. In the current work, experimental auctions were used to investigate the effect of a certification about containing food waste within a certain threshold on participants’ willingness to pay. The product chosen for the auctions was the French baguette (500 g) packaged with a paper wrapper. Furthermore, we examined whether the effect would be moderated by different communication strategies about the consequences of wasting. Specifically, two different frames of reference were used: the first is based on the carbon footprint, the other on the water footprint. Our results showed that waste prevention–based labeling positively affected participants’ willingness to pay and that this effect was enhanced by the carbon footprint frame of reference.     

Consumer Attitude towards Organic Labeling Schemes in Japan

ABSTRACT

Japan is the most lucrative organic market in the Asian region and is projected to account for about 80% of the Asian market revenues by 2009 (Kuhlmann and Jones, 2006). This study identifies Japanese consumer preference and interest in two major labeling information- source of organic certification/traceability and country of origin for organic food products. Stated preference method (SPM) based survey data was collected from two major cities in Japan in order to develop Japanese consumers' organic food choice model. Findings show that Japanese consumers are willing to pay 10% price premium for the organic food products compared to conventional products that have no specific labeling, suggesting a significant profit margin to be possibly captured by the organic producers and marketers. The Japanese consumers have perceived value of the JAS label in their stated preference and showed willingness to pay a price premium for this quality certification system, which validates the importance of government-regulated mandatory labeling. Regarding the country origin labeling issue, the Japanese consumers showed clear preference for the domestic organic products to the imported products, while showing no preference for any particular country origin for imported organic products. For private-voluntary organic labeling, the consumer organization-led organic label is considered to be more reliable source than the retailer-guaranteed organic label.     

Food Beliefs: Elicitation,Estimation and Implications for Labeling Policy

We present a model in which consumers use product attributes (or labels) and their own beliefs to form expectations about the quality of a product. We use best–worst scaling to elicit beliefs, and study how information may influence these beliefs. In our ranking experiments, participants sort different milk products according to (perceived) nutritional or environmental quality, and we use the resulting choice data to recover beliefs econometrically. In a nutritional quality experiment, we measure how food labels (i.e. front‐of‐package, back‐of‐package and ratio of recommended to restricted nutrients) alter consumers’ beliefs, finding that truthful attribute information may sometimes mislead consumers. The discussion explains how similar experiments could be used to distinguish informative labels from marketing messages.     

Consumer Attitudes Toward Mandatory Traceability and Labeling Systems for Farmed Atlantic Salmon

The food incidence of polychlorinated biphenyls in farmed Atlantic salmon in Canada and its subsequent effects on the demand for farm-raised salmon has induced policymakers and stakeholders to develop new policies on food safety. This article analyzes consumer attitudes toward mandatory traceability and labeling systems for farmed Atlantic salmon in Newfoundland and Labrador. It identifies factors affecting consumers' decisions to purchase the product. Results show that consumers, on average, perceive the benefits of traceability and labeling systems on farm-raised Atlantic salmon in spite of its driving up the product price.     

Consumer Surplus from Public Water Works

Towns and villages in the prairie provinces have always had the problem of inadequate water systems. Either the system is undersized or the source is inadequate. Towns are, therefore, required to raise money for the construction of new systems. Since water is frequently a declining cost utility, marginal cost pricing results in inadequate revenue to total cost. Yet optimal allocation of resources requires the equation of marginal costs and revenues. Towns are forced, then, to look to other sources of funding, particularly public agencies.     

Consumer Behavior and Fish Market Development in Oman

Abstract

Capitalizing on the rich fishing grounds that populate the coastal waters of the Sultanate of Oman is important in that country's economic diversification. Domestic fish markets have been constrained by consumers⁵ habits, which show very strong preferences for fresh fish over other processed forms. This study relates fish market and product development to consumer habits, perceptions, income, and other demographic and socioeconomic factors. Educational attainment and rural/urban households demonstrated the strongest relationships to likelihood of Omani fish choice by species and form. Income group, importance of price, and price expectations were significant influences on fish variety and form consumption, as were attitudinal choice characteristics, such as place of purchase, fish product characteristics, and spousal purchasing decision. Rural households and household size affected the odds of Omani consumption of fresh fish negatively.     

Consumer Behavior Toward Goat Milk and Its Processed Products in Malang,Indonesia

The study was carried out in Malang East Java, Indonesia. The purpose was to investigate how consumers behave with regard to fresh goat milk or its processed products and to examine determinants that influence this behavior. One hundred respondents were selected using a convenience sampling method and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze consumer behavior toward fresh goat milk or its processed products. This study could contribute to a better understanding of consumers' demand toward this food. Consumers often purchased fresh goat milk or its processed products whereas only a small number rarely bought this food. Consumers frequently demanded fresh goat milk or its processed products as they had more family members and perceived the importance of the availability, many choices, and the affordable price of this food. On the contrary, consumers with high education and concern about the importance of income, the existence of cow milk and its product, and consumers' perception about fresh goat milk and its processed products as special foods might seldom purchase these foods.     

体育彩票消费者行为模式的研究综述

体育彩票是体育事业筹集公共资金的重要途径,本文分析了当前体育彩票消费行为模式的现状及影响因素,以期为体育彩票机构决策的提出提供参考依据。     

Consumer Behavior Toward Eco-Labeled Minimally Processed Fruit Product

The authors proposed an analysis of the determinants of purchase intentions and willingness to pay for minimally processed fruit. For this purpose, on-field research was conducted that involved 589 consumers. A questionnaire, gathered in Italy and based on a Likert scale, was administered to investigate intentions to purchase minimally processed fruit from environmentally sustainable farms, simulating a minimally processed product with an eco-label. Via structural equation modeling, the authors develop propositions representing a theoretical approach in the context of purchasing food products. By analyzing two different types of consciousness (health and green), the deduced managerial implications make it possible to assess that the green consciousness influences the attitude and affects the choices and behaviors of consumers. The potential adoption of an eco-label on this kind of food product could be seen as a useful marketing tool for new markets.     

政策网络与公共政策效能的实现路径

公共政策效能是政府运用公共政策对政策目标群体所产生的影响。从政策网络视角解析政府政策效能实现的路径是一个新的研究视角。政策网络研究视角不仅是制度主义研究视角和行为主义研究视角之间的纽带,还超越了多元主义研究视角的局限。在政策网络视阈,政策网络的开放程度以及政策网络的集成程度是政府政策效能释放的关键因素。提高政策网络的集成程度,有效解决政策执行传导环节的“中梗阻”现象,扩大政策网络的开放程度,有效解决政策执行基层落实环节的“最后一公里”现象,从而实现公共政策的整体效能。     

Credence Good Labeling: The Efficiency and Distributional Implications of Several Policy Approaches

A model of vertical product differentiation is used to analyze the labeling of credence goods, focusing on the manner by which quality is communicated. The results indicate that firms prefer private labeling options. In addition, firms may hire private certifiers as well as paying for mandated government labels when the government's quality benchmark substantially deviates from firms' private quality choices. The average consumer prefers a mandatory, discrete label with a high-quality standard while poor consumers prefer a mandatory, discrete label with a low standard.     

牧户与农户消费行为的比较分析

牧户和农户的消费行为深受游牧文明和农耕文明的影响而差异明显.本文采用2005年内蒙古220户牧区住户和1840户农区住户的调查资料,利用扩展线性支出系统(ELES)模型,对牧户和农户的边际消费倾向、价格需求弹性和收入需求弹性进行比较分析,展现牧户与农户的消费特点和趋势.牧户与农户的基本生活消费支出差距明显,但二者的可选择性消费水平、储蓄或投资的潜力均比较低;与实际消费结构相比,在满足基本需求后,农户比牧户更为重视居住条件的改善,而交通通讯、医疗保健等方面消费支出则牧户高于农户.     

上海市居民的农产品消费行为研究

本文以消费行为研究为出发点,根据对上海市消费者进行的抽样调查所得的数据,采用描述性分析方法的计算分析技术对11种农产品的消费进行了分析,揭示了不同农产品消费的特点和变化趋势,确定了影响各种产品消费的最主要因素。     

基于收入分层QUAIDS模型的广东省城镇居民家庭食品消费行为分析

基于2007～2009年广东省城镇居民家庭7类食品的消费数据,本文运用QUAIDS模型对不同收入家庭食品消费结构及其消费行为进行了分析。结果表明:首先,按照全部样本估算的城镇居民家庭乳品、油脂类和肉类等动物性食品的支出弹性大于1,与中等和高收入家庭相比,低收入家庭这三类食品的消费支出弹性也相对敏感;其次,在不同收入分层中,低收入家庭油脂类食品的消费价格弹性相对敏感;再次,当收入和价格同比例变化时,城镇居民家庭更愿意增加对肉类、蛋类和乳品的消费。因此,稳定食品价格、提高最低生活保障标准和最低工资标准等措施,是确保城镇居民家庭食品消费需求、营养摄入水平及生活质量的前提条件。     

影响消费者对转基因标识政策选择的因素分析

本文首先介绍了目前国内外对转基因产品标识问题的争论,然后建立模型,从理论上分析了消费者对转基因产品的偏好、生产成本节约对消费者的转嫁、标识成本对消费者的转嫁、转基因产品在产品中所占比重等4个因素如何影响消费者对转基因标识政策的选择。     

经济转型背景下住宅类房地产消费行为影响因素

随着经济的转型升级,住宅房地产的投资属性已经逐渐被其消费属性所替代,房地产企业已经开始关注住宅类房地产的营销问题。有效营销的基础是消费者行为研究,对转型期住宅类房地产消费行为影响因素的研究显得尤为重要。其目的就是要为营销管理提供依据,使房地产企业可以进行有的放矢的营销。通过文献研究、观察及住宅类房地产内外部因素的结构化研究等方法可以发现:经济转型背景下,影响住宅类房地产消费行为的内部因素和外部因素都在发生变化。内部因素主要包括消费者动机、消费者态度和消费者自我概念;外部因素主要包括相关群体状况、社会阶层状况、文化状况和家庭状况。     

Public Policy and Private Incentives for Livestock Disease Control

This article presents a dynamic bioeconomic model of livestock disease control that is unique in its integration of disease dynamics, inter-species interaction, control-induced migration, and individual optimising behaviour. Examination of the first-order conditions highlights why profit-maximising producers cannot be expected to eradicate disease. Results from an empirical application of the model confirm that the current mix of policies to control bovine tuberculosis in New Zealand is achieving lower levels of prevalence than would prevail in the absence of a national strategy. These policies do, however, appear to remove some of the individual incentive to control disease.     

公共政策被动参与形成机理分析

广泛的公共政策参与是政策过程民主化的需要,也是彰显公共政策民主化的重要方面。但是,由于受到参与主体参与意识的束缚、政策权威主体的排斥、参与路径不畅等因素的制约,在我国政策领域还普遍存在着被动政策参与。