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Unpacking Public Opposition to Meat Taxes: A Survey-Experiment in California

Author

Listed:
  • Douenne, Thomas
  • Lee, Natalie
  • Treich, Nicolas

Abstract

Meat taxes are unpopular despite meat's environmental, health, and animal-welfare externalities. We study this opposition in a survey experiment with 3,299 Californians evaluating a meat-tax-and-dividend policy. Respondents watch an explanatory video and receive randomized information and framing treatments targeting economic beliefs (financial incidence, distributional effects, effectiveness) and non-economic considerations (freedom, identity). Opposition is widespread and often justified by freedom and fairness concerns. Information on tax progressivity increases support, whereas information on financial impact or effectiveness does not. Freedom framing has only marginal effects, but identity priming significantly increases opposition, revealing a gap between stated concerns and the factors shaping support.

Suggested Citation

  • Douenne, Thomas & Lee, Natalie & Treich, Nicolas, 2026. "Unpacking Public Opposition to Meat Taxes: A Survey-Experiment in California," CEPR Discussion Papers 21504, Centre for Economic Policy Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:21504
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    File URL: https://cepr.org/publications/DP21504
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C83 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Survey Methods; Sampling Methods
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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