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Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Foods with Traceability Information: Ex-Ante Quality Assurance or Ex-Post Traceability?

Author

Listed:
  • Bo Hou

    (School of Philosophy and Public Administration, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, China)

  • Linhai Wu

    (Food Safety Research Base of Jiangsu Province (School of Business), Jiangnan University, Synergetic Innovation Center of Food Safety and Nutrition, Wuxi 214122, China)

  • Xiujuan Chen

    (Food Safety Research Base of Jiangsu Province (School of Business), Jiangnan University, Synergetic Innovation Center of Food Safety and Nutrition, Wuxi 214122, China)

  • Dian Zhu

    (School of Dongwu Business, Soochow University, Suzhou 215021, China)

  • Ruiyao Ying

    (College of Economic and Management, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China)

  • Fu-Sheng Tsai

    (Department of Business Administration, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung 83347, Taiwan
    Center for Environmental Toxin and Emerging-Contaminant Research, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung 83347, Taiwan
    Super Micro Mass Research and Technology Center, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung 83347, Taiwan)

Abstract

In this study, traceability in pork profile information with ex-ante quality assurance and ex-post traceability are constructed. Consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for traceability information is investigated in Wuxi, China, by combining the Multiple Price Lists method and the Becker–DeGroot–Marschak (BDM) experimental auction. The main factors affecting consumers’ WTP are also analyzed using a Tobit model. The results demonstrate that consumers have higher WTP for ex-ante quality assurance than for ex-post traceability. The highest WTP is for the ex-ante quality assurance attribute of pork quality inspection. Consumers’ WTP for traceability information is influenced by their individual characteristics, including age, education and income, as well as their concern and satisfaction about food safety and confidence in food safety labeling. The contribution of this paper is that it improves the meaning of traceable food information attributes and measures the significance of attributes to consumers. Furthermore, this paper introduces a Becker–DeGroot–Marschak experimental auction method which amends the measurement deviation of hypothetical experiments.

Suggested Citation

  • Bo Hou & Linhai Wu & Xiujuan Chen & Dian Zhu & Ruiyao Ying & Fu-Sheng Tsai, 2019. "Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Foods with Traceability Information: Ex-Ante Quality Assurance or Ex-Post Traceability?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-14, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:5:p:1464-:d:212496
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Daniele Asioli & Adriana Mignani & Frode Alfnes, 2021. "Quick and easy? Respondent evaluations of the Becker–DeGroot–Marschak and multiple price list valuation mechanisms," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 37(2), pages 215-234, April.

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