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The Economic Analysis of Consumer Attitudes Towards Food Produced Using Prohibited Production Methods: Do Consumers Really Care?

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  • Kelvin Balcombe
  • Dylan Bradley
  • Iain Fraser

Abstract

We report the findings from a hypothetical discrete choice experiment (DCE) examining UK consumer attitudes for food produced using agricultural production methods currently prohibited in the UK i.e., hormone implants in beef; Ractopamine in pig feed; chlorine washed chicken; and Atrazine pesticide. Our results reveal that on average the public have very negative values for these forms of agricultural production methods. We also find that respondents highly value food products that observe EU food safety standards. Our willingness to pay estimates show that the positive values for food safety are frequently greater than negative values placed on the food production methods examined. Similarly, UK country of origin was highly valued but organic production was not valued as highly. These results clearly indicate that the only attribute that is negatively valued across all DCE are the production methods that are currently not allowed within the EU or UK.

Suggested Citation

  • Kelvin Balcombe & Dylan Bradley & Iain Fraser, 2020. "The Economic Analysis of Consumer Attitudes Towards Food Produced Using Prohibited Production Methods: Do Consumers Really Care?," Studies in Economics 2004, School of Economics, University of Kent.
    • Handle: RePEc:ukc:ukcedp:2004
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    2. Vo Hong Tu & Steven W. Kopp & Nguyen Thuy Trang & Andreas Kontoleon & Mitsuyasu Yabe, 2021. "UK Consumers’ Preferences for Ethical Attributes of Floating Rice: Implications for Environmentally Friendly Agriculture in Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-27, July.

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    Discrete Choice Experiment; Willingness to Pay;

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