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Do labels capture consumers’ actual willingness to pay for Fair Trade characteristics?

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  • Vlaeminck, Pieter
  • Vranken, Liesbet

Abstract

Labeling schemes are used as a mechanism to inform consumers about products with both public and private characteristics. Consumers are increasingly interested in the ethical characteristics of food products and are willing to pay the premium for it. Nevertheless, market shares of ethically produced food products remain low. Not much research has been directed towards the question whether labels completely incorporate the ethical characteristics they stand for and are able to convey these values to consumers. Using two, partially incentive compatible, stated choice experiments in a natural consumer environment and chocolate as study object, we are able to compare consumers’ willingness to pay for a Fair Trade label and for the label’s underlying characteristics. Results show that dispersion exists between the value of a Fair Trade label and the actual values consumers attach to the underlying characteristics of Fair Trade.

Suggested Citation

  • Vlaeminck, Pieter & Vranken, Liesbet, 2015. "Do labels capture consumers’ actual willingness to pay for Fair Trade characteristics?," Working Papers 206438, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Centre for Agricultural and Food Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:kucawp:206438
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.206438
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    1. Lefoll, Erwin & Günther, Isabel & Veronesi, Marcella, 2022. "Low Demand for Fair Trade Chocolate: Lack of Efficiency, Attention, Knowledge or Trust?," VfS Annual Conference 2022 (Basel): Big Data in Economics 264065, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.

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