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Differences in global risk perceptions of biotechnology and the political economy of the media

Author

Listed:
  • Kynda R. Curtis
  • Jill J. McCluskey
  • Johan F.M. Swinnen

Abstract

The application of biotechnology to agriculture is highly controversial between consumers and lawmakers across the globe, especially in the case of Genetically Modified Foods (GMFs). Consumer attitudes toward GMFs are largely negative in the developed nations. However, studies conducted in Lesser Developed Countries (LDCs) find that consumer attitudes toward GMFs are positive in some cases. Using a theoretical model of the political economy of the media, we argue that the increased time cost of obtaining media information or 'stories' in LDCs leads to a lower consumption on average of biotechnology information, especially negative information than that of the developed countries. In addition, ideological influences on media firms in many LDCs leads to differing supplies of biotechnology stories between LDCs and developed nations. Hence, reduced consumption of biotechnology media stories and the potential for increased positive stories contributes to lower risk perceptions among consumers in LDCs.

Suggested Citation

  • Kynda R. Curtis & Jill J. McCluskey & Johan F.M. Swinnen, 2008. "Differences in global risk perceptions of biotechnology and the political economy of the media," International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 8(1/2), pages 77-89.
    • Handle: RePEc:ids:ijgenv:v:8:y:2008:i:1/2:p:77-89
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Johan F.M. Swinnen & Thijs Vandemoortele, 2008. "The Political Economy of Nutrition and Health Standards in Food Markets," Review of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 30(3), pages 460-468.
    2. Alessandro Olper & Johan Swinnen, 2013. "Mass Media and Public Policy: Global Evidence from Agricultural Policies," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 27(3), pages 413-436.
    3. Ventura, Vera & Frisio, Dario G. & Ferrazzi, Giovanni, 2015. "How Scary! An analysis of visual communication concerning genetically modified organisms in Italy," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 211921, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    4. Johan F.M. Swinnen & Thijs Vandemoortele, 2009. "Trade, Development, and the Political Economy of Public Standards," LICOS Discussion Papers 23609, LICOS - Centre for Institutions and Economic Performance, KU Leuven.
    5. Resnick, Danielle & Babu, Suresh & Haggblade, Steven & Hendriks, Sheryl L. & Mather, David, 2015. "Conceptualizing Drivers Of Policy Change In Agriculture, Nutrition, And Food Security: The Kaleidoscope Model," Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy Research Papers 258732, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security (FSP).
    6. Katja Pietrzyck & Nora Berke & Vanessa Wendel & Julia Steinhoff-Wagner & Sebastian Jarzębowski & Brigitte Petersen, 2021. "Understanding the Importance of International Quality Standards Regarding Global Trade in Food and Agricultural Products: Analysis of the German Media," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-20, April.
    7. Guanghua Han & Yihong Liu, 2018. "Does Information Pattern Affect Risk Perception of Food Safety? A National Survey in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-14, September.
    8. McCluskey Jill J. & Winfree Jason, 2017. "The Economics of GM Labeling and Implications for Trade," Journal of Agricultural & Food Industrial Organization, De Gruyter, vol. 15(1), pages 1-7, January.
    9. Vigani, Mauro & Olper, Alessandro, 2014. "GM-free private standards, public regulation of GM products and mass media," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 19(6), pages 743-768, December.
    10. Zilberman, David & Graff, Gregory & Hochman, Gal & Kaplan, Scott, 2015. "The Political Economy of Biotechnology," German Journal of Agricultural Economics, Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin, Department for Agricultural Economics, vol. 64(04), December.
    11. Franklin Bailey Norwood & Glynn Tonsor & Jayson L Lusk, 2019. "I Will Give You My Vote but Not My Money: Preferences for Public versus Private Action in Addressing Social Issues," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 41(1), pages 96-132, March.
    12. Eleni A. Galata, 2017. "The cultivation of opinions. How did the press cover the last 16 years of experience with GMOs in Canada?," Cogent Business & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 4(1), pages 1297212-129, January.
    13. Vigani, Mauro & Olper, Alessandro, 2013. "GMO standards, endogenous policy and the market for information," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 32-43.
    14. Kong, Xiangwen & Sun, Yuxuan & Qiu, Huanguang, 2023. "Climatic disasters and Conflicts in GMO Approval," 2023 Annual Meeting, July 23-25, Washington D.C. 335544, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    15. Huffman Wallace & McCluskey Jill, 2017. "Food Labels, Information, and Trade in GMOs," Journal of Agricultural & Food Industrial Organization, De Gruyter, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, January.

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