Ethical Rules and the Demand for Free Range Eggs

John Rolfe
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John Rolfe: Central Queensland University

Economic Analysis and Policy, 1999, vol. 29, issue 2, 187-206

Abstract: In this paper, two contingent valuation experiments to estimate values for animal welfare are reported. The focus of the experiments was to demonstrate the application of non-market valuation techniques for this purpose, and to determine whether the applications are invalidated by any association of the amenity to be valued with ethical and moral themes. Such an association has been suggested, in several formats, to underlie potential scoping effects. The experiments show that little evidence can be found to suggest that any association between free range eggs and ethical and moral themes causes particular valuation problems. However, accurate estimation of the welfare of battery hens is difficult, because animal welfare concerns may only be one reason why free-range eggs are purchased. Also, the potential use of consumer purchase prices as references to value may make consumer surplus estimates problematic. 2 downloads: http://www.eap-journal.com.au/download.php?file=365 and http://www.eap-journal.com.au/download.php?file=366

Keywords: Contingent Valuation; Morals; Welfare (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D63 L66 L93 Q26 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1999
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecanpo:v:29:y:1999:i:2:p:187-206

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