Authors: Loureiro, Maria L.¹; Bugbee, Marcia²

Source: International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, Volume 6, Number 1, 24 January 2007 , pp. 111-123(13)

Publisher: Inderscience Publishers

Abstract:

While Genetically Modified (GM) crops and foods are in production and on the shelves of supermarkets in many countries, they are still under much criticism and scrutiny around the world. Many studies report that consumers' perceptions towards biotechnology are mixed. The main contribution of this paper is to present a Contingent Valuation (CV) modelling approach that allows for the calculation of a net willingness to pay when both 'lovers' and 'haters' of these GM crops are considered. Willingness To Pay (WTP) is contrasted with Willingness To Accept (WTA) and a net WTP estimate is computed. Results suggest that not properly accounting for the existence of negative preferences may seriously bias the welfare estimates. These findings encourage policymakers to assess new technologies employing a framework of heterogeneous consumer preferences, including both, perceived benefits and perceived risks.

Keywords: ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALS; Environment and Sustainable Development; Infrastructures

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/IJARGE.2007.012146

Affiliations: 1: Ramon y Cajal Research Fellow, IDEGA-Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain Avda das Ciencias, S/N, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain. 2: Pacific Wine Partners, A division of Constellation Wines, USA

Publication date: 2007-01-24

More about this publication?

• The International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology proposes and fosters discussion on the evolution and governance of agricultural resources, with emphasis on the implications that policy choices have on both the welfare of humans and the ecology of the planet. This perspective acknowledges the complexity of the agricultural sector as an interface between ecological and socio-economic processes operating in parallel over different space-time scales, as well as the reflexive characteristic of human systems.
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