Willingness to Pay and QALYs: What Can We Learn about Valuing Foodborne Risk?

This paper examines the value of reducing foodborne risk. Previous research on the valuation of health risk has been dominated by the study of mortality risk. However, in most cases foodborne illnesses are non‐fatal, so we focus on individuals' preferences for reducing morbidity risk, while also including a realistic, if remote, chance of death. We use a contingent valuation method on a Swedish sample and we estimate a value of a statistical illness consistent with previous findings in the literature. We also examine how willingness to pay (WTP) varies with the expected change in quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) and estimate the WTP per QALY. We find that WTP increases with, though less than proportionally to, a change in QALYs. However, our results also suggest that respondents may have found it difficult to evaluate compound risks of both morbidity and mortality simultaneously.     

Organic‐ and Animal Welfare‐labelled Eggs: Competing for the Same Consumers?

To understand the market for sustainable foods, it is important to allow for heterogeneous preferences. However, most studies of consumer preferences for sustainable foods only investigate average consumer preferences. They do not take into account that some consumer segments attempt to purchase as much sustainable food as possible, others are almost indifferent to the notion of sustainable food, and still others consider sustainable food a complete hoax. The aim of this study is to explore the preferences for various types of premium eggs across three consumer segments. We conduct a choice experiment including 900 Norwegian consumers and perform a behavioural segmentation based on the frequency of organic food purchase. We find that the segment purchasing the most organic food is, as expected, willing to pay a significant premium for organic eggs over eggs displaying only enhanced animal welfare. However, most consumers, who only occasionally purchase organic products, are unwilling to pay more for organic eggs than for enhanced animal welfare eggs, suggesting diminishing marginal utility for additional attributes. We find that a third consumer segment attempts to avoid organic eggs, even when they cost the same as other eggs. Our findings suggest that organic products will be unsuccessful in acquiring a larger share of the market as long as most consumers are unwilling to pay a premium for organic products with all their cost increasing sustainable attributes over products that have only a single sustainable attribute, in our case enhanced animal welfare.     

蔬菜种植户对有机肥替代化肥技术支付意愿及其影响因素的研究

目的 蔬菜作物不合理施肥和过量施用化肥,不仅影响作物产量与品质提升,还带来资源浪费,影响农田生态环境。推进蔬菜有机肥替代化肥技术意义重大,文章以期为蔬菜种植户对有机肥替代化肥技术推广、激励农户积极参与投资绿色农资提供重要的科学依据。方法 基于北京市、山东省和安徽省的4个县（区）328户设施蔬菜种植户调研数据,通过构建二元Logistic和Tobit回归模型分别对有机肥替代化肥施用技术蔬菜种植户的支付意愿和支付意愿价值进行分析。结果 78.7%的受访蔬菜种植户对有机肥部分替代化肥技术具有支付意愿,且支付意愿价值平均值为E（WTP）=31.51元/667m2。农户学历、蔬菜种植收入占比、有机肥替代后蔬菜售价、施肥配套设施和接受过科学施肥指导对农户的支付意愿有显著影响。农户蔬菜种植收入占比、家庭劳动力人数、对有机肥替代化肥技术改善生产环境的认知、对有机肥替代化肥技术后蔬菜品质的认知、有机肥替代后蔬菜售价和接受过科学施肥指导对农户的支付意愿价值有显著影响。结论 技术带来的利润增加与相关技术指导对蔬菜种植农户采用有机肥替代化肥技术具有重要的影响。提出了推进设施蔬菜有机肥替代化肥技术实施的加强政策宣传、完善产业扶持、强化精准服务、抓好生产配套等建议措施。     

What Is It About Organic Milk? An Experimental Analysis

Auction experiments were used to examine demand relationships and willingness to pay (WTP) for organic, rBST-free, no antibiotics used, and conventional milk. Elasticities showed strong substitute and complement relationships between organic, rBST-free, and no antibiotics varieties. The sum of the latter two's premiums were not significantly different than the organic premium, suggesting diminishing marginal utility for added attributes. Results from a two-stage heteroskedastic tobit model demonstrated that WTP premiums for the varieties differ significantly by demographics and beliefs regarding the conventional version. These suggest market segments for rBST-free and no antibiotics versions could succeed alongside organic, benefiting consumers and producers.     

Knowledge and willingness to pay for organic food in Spain: Evidence from experimental auctions

The aim of this paper is to analyse the main determinants of consumers' knowledge and their willingness to pay for organic food products. Moreover, the relationship between knowledge and buying behaviour is explored. Virgin olive oil is taken as an example. Data was generated by way of an experimental auction carried out in two cities in northeast Spain. A three-equation model is estimated: (1) Consumer knowledge; (2) the decision to pay a premium for organic olive oil; and (3) how much premium consumers are willing to pay. Results indicate that socio-economic variables are main determinants of consumer knowledge, and that consumer attitude, lifestyle and knowledge all influence the decision to pay a premium for organic olive oil.     

Willingness to Pay for Quality Labeled Meat in a Rural Area

The aim of this study is to identify consumer perceptions and attitudes toward quality labeled pork and beef using cross-sectional consumer data. Given the dramatic changes over the last years in the meat sector as a result of the recent food scares, the study can facilitate better communicating with consumers and gaining insight into their perceptions and behavior toward meat products. A consumer survey was conducted in the rural region of Thessaly in Greece in order to investigate (a) food quality perceptions, (b) attitudes toward pork and beef quality labels, and (c) intentions to purchase higher priced certified pork and beef. The findings suggest that sociodemographic and personal characteristics have an impact on consumer willingness to pay for such products and different market segments can be targeted by marketers and food policymakers.     

A meta-analysis of the willingness to pay for reductions in pesticide risk exposure

We review the empirical valuation literature on pesticide riskexposure and develop a taxonomy of environmental and human healthrisks associated with pesticide usage. Meta-analysis is thenused to investigate the variation in willingness to pay (WTP)estimates for reduced pesticide risk exposure. Our findingsshow that the WTP for reduced risk exposure is 15 per cent greaterfor medium, and 80 per cent greater for high risk levels, ascompared with low risk levels. The income elasticity of reducedpesticide risk exposure is generally not significantly differentfrom zero. Stated preference approaches based on choice experimentsand revealed preference provide lower WTP estimates than contingentvaluation techniques. Survey design, type of safety device (eco-labelling,integrated pest management, or bans) and chosen payment vehicleare important drivers of the valuation results.     

中国马铃薯农户种植意愿及其空间差异

目的 探究不同区域农户马铃薯种植意愿的影响因素及其差别,能够提高农户种植马铃薯的能动性与积极性,为马铃薯主粮化进程提供决策参考。方法 文章基于1 261个农户样本调研,运用条件价值评估法和多元回归模型,从农户个体禀赋、生产经营、社会资源、市场认知、政策需求五个方面对农户支付与受偿意愿进行分析,在此基础上探讨影响马铃薯种植意愿的主要因素,再比较分析典型产区马铃薯种植影响因素。结果 马铃薯农户种植受偿意愿均值为4 069.5元/hm²,支付意愿均值为724.5元/hm²;马铃薯农户种植意愿受各项成本收益、农户受教育程度、家庭收入、社会资源、市场信息认知及政府补贴的影响较大;北方种植因素受规模和利润率的主导,南方更多受到家庭生产经营特征的综合影响。结论 个体决策影响群体决策,群体决策影响整体马铃薯种植空间格局变化。区域内农户采取基于种植约束、成本收益和政策支持的种植方案选择,通过有限区域范围的无限趋同决策,产生不同程度的种植集聚、产业集聚和市场集聚,进而影响马铃薯种植空间格局变化。     

基于Heckman模型的支付意愿及强度的影响因素研究——以大理州276个奶牛养殖户为例

[目的]农业非点源污染尤其是畜禽养殖业污染问题已成为我国亟需解决的环境问题之一。探讨农户参与畜禽养殖污染防控的支付意愿及支付强度,对政府制定相关政策具有指导性意义。[方法]基于大理州276个奶牛养殖户的调查数据,运用Heckman两阶段模型对农户参与洱海流域奶牛废弃物循环利用支付意愿及支付强度的影响因素进行了实证分析。[结果](1)62.68%的奶牛养殖户对参与奶牛废弃物的循环利用具有支付意愿;(2)户主受教育程度、家庭收入主要来源、奶牛养殖头数、耕地数量及牛粪还田方式等因素对奶农支付意愿的影响较为显著。其中,户主受教育程度、奶牛养殖头数、耕地规模及牛粪是否还田对奶农支付意愿的影响呈正相关,家庭收入主要来源呈负相关;而影响程度大小依次为:家庭收入主要来源牛粪是否还田户主受教育程度奶牛养殖头数耕地规模;(3)户主年龄、受教育程度和牛粪是否还田等因素对奶农的支付强度产生重要影响。其中,户主年龄对奶农支付意愿强度的影响呈负相关,而后两者表现为正相关。[结论]最后,提出了促进洱海流域奶牛废弃物循环利用的政策建议。     

Estimating Willingness to Pay for Improved Water Quality in the Presence of Item Nonresponse Bias

This article deals with the problem of item nonresponse in contingent valuation surveys using a payment-card method, by applying a grouped-data sample-selection estimation technique that is capable of imputing the missing values conditional upon a respondent's decision to answer a willingness-to-pay question. The advantage of the technique lies in its ability to utilize all of the information in the sample, permitting a more efficient estimation in the presence of item nonresponse bias. The major determinants of willingness to pay appear to be household income, number of children, education, perception of existing water quality, and identification with environmental issues.     

Are multiple labels on food products beneficial or simply ignored?

This study examines consumer preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for organic wheat products exhibiting single labels, as well as multiple labels, including organic. The additional labels considered are related to the organic label (non-genetically modified organism [non-GMO]) or perceived as health-promoting (gluten-free, low-carb, sugar-free). Study data were collected using a consumer survey conducted online in 2017 across 16 U.S. western states and analyzed using random parameter logit models. Findings show that organic-labeled wheat products with additional claims were valued equally or less than the organic only version. Overall, consumer higher objective and subjective knowledge of organic standards, as well as preferences for gluten-free products, increased their WTP for organic wheat products. Consumers unfamiliar with organic standards valued the non-GMO label over the organic label. Additionally, consumer WTP for health-related claims on hedonistic products was low or even negative. Hence, multiple labels on organic products generally provide no additional consumer benefit and are likely ignored. Study findings suggest that using the claim that most distinguishes the product, or is most salient, may improve product pricing. Also, non-GMO certification rather than organic certification should be considered for some markets. Finally, consumers with preferences for gluten-free products represent a potential market for organic wheat products.     

公众参与森林生态建设主观意愿的影响因素分析——基于支付意愿研究视角

在参考现有成果中关于支付意愿相关研究的基础上,选择了公众心理感知层面的内在驱动因素(主观意愿)博弈自愿支付行为决策的视角,运用探索性因素分析(EFA)、验证性因素分析(CFA)方法对影响东北地区公众参与森林生态建设支付意愿的主观意愿影响因素进行了实证分析。结果表明:探索性主观意愿三因子模型(满意度、关注度、重视度)克伦巴赫系数为0.863;因子之间呈中高度相关,满意度与关注度、重视度呈负相关,与主观意愿总体呈正相关;主观意愿二阶潜变量结构方程模型路径系数分别为0.91、0.76、0.44,拟合优度指数GFI为0.997。     

基于CVM的城市河道改造生态环境价值评估

从城市河道改造的生态环境价值评估角度,分析了条件价值评估法(CVM)在城市河道改造生态环境价值评估中的应用原理和依据,构建了基于CVM的城市河道改造生态环境价值评估模型,并以上海市黄浦江加高堤防替代建闸方案为例对黄浦江河道改造的生态环境价值进行了评估。结果表明：期望均值法和三相定价法计算得到的总支付意愿分别为120.6亿元/a和118.5亿元/a,总受偿意愿为130.8亿元/a和151.2亿元/a,总受偿意愿与总支付意愿的比值大于1;仅从生态环境价值方面看,相对于加高堤防方案,民众更希望政府投资建闸。     

Decomposing Local: A Conjoint Analysis of Locally Produced Foods

Increasingly, foods are marketed as locally grown. We use stated preference data from a choice-based conjoint instrument to address two issues surrounding consumer demand for locally produced goods: (1) what is the geographical extent of local, and (2) is the value consumers place on local production distinct from other factors that are often confounded with locally produced foods such as farm size and product freshness? We find our subjects place similar value on products produced in state and nearby and that consumers' willingness to pay for local production is independent from values associated with product freshness and farm size.     

基于MOA理论消费者绿色农产品溢价支付意愿驱动路径分析*——以大米为例

[目的]随着我国人民生活水平的提高,绿色农产品愈发得到消费者的青睐。文章旨在探析消费者绿色农产品意愿溢价水平及其溢价支付意愿的驱动路径,以期为绿色农产品产业的发展提供相应政策启示。[方法]基于MOA理论分析框架,利用结构方程模型和消费者调查数据,该文以主粮大米为例展开分析。[结果]以普通大米5元/kg为基准价格,消费者绿色大米平均意愿溢价水平为125.7%,意愿溢价水平从高到低排序依次是东部地区(145.2%)、中部地区(140.09%)、西部地区(91.82%)。[结论](1)利己动机、利他动机、创新性能力、信息获取能力能够直接作用于消费者绿色农产品溢价支付意愿,而消费机会通过利己动机、利他动机和信息获取能力间接作用于溢价支付意愿;(2)基于多群组结构方程,研究发现个人可支配收入和文化程度能够调节消费者创新性能力、信息获取能力对消费者绿色农产品溢价支付意愿影响;(3)消费者创新性能力和信息获取能力对溢价支付意愿的影响存在地域差异性。