Consumer Demand for Quality: Major Determinant for Agricultural and Food Trade in the Future?

Julie Caswell () and Siny Joseph ()
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Siny Joseph: Department of Resource Economics, University of Massachusetts Amherst

No 2007-4, Working Papers from University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Resource Economics

Abstract: The impact of consumer demand for quality on the agricultural and food system is an increased emphasis on quality differentiation but not all in the direction of upgrading quality. The more elite market segments are thriving and reaching growing numbers of consumers but the basic price/quality markets remain strong. Most recent economic studies find that consumers are willing to pay for food safety and other quality attributes, and for information about them. The magnitude of the valuations varies by food product, attribute, country, and study design. This literature and a case study of genetically modified foods suggest that consumer demand has a strong effect on agricultural and food trade.

Keywords: food quality; food safety; consumer demand; willingness to pay; international trade (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D12 L15 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 31 pages
Date: 2007-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr and nep-mkt
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Consumer Demand for Quality: Major Determinant for Agricultural and Food Trade in the Future? (2007)
Working Paper: Consumer Demand for Quality: Major Determinant for Agricultural and Food Trade in the Future? (2007)
Working Paper: Consumer Demand for Quality: Major Determinant for Agricultural and Food Trade in the Future? (2007)
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