Paid Consumer Surveys

Paid Consumer Surveys Biography
Stefano Boccaletti and Daniele Moro
This paper evaluates consumer willingness-to-pay (WTP) for food products obtained through
the application of biotechnology using data collected from a consumer survey in Italy in 1999.
Survey results show that consumers have a low degree of knowledge of the issue, but an
overall positive attitude towards genetically modified (GM) foods.  Estimation results of an
ordered probit model suggest that WTP is mainly affected by income and information.
Key words:  biotechnology; willingness-to-pay (WTP); food products;
      contingent valuation (CV).
The issue of consumer acceptance of biotechnology has been largely debated (see for example
Thompson, 1996, 1998).   It is commonly believed that European consumers have a negative attitude
towards biotechnology; and, indeed, international comparisons of consumer acceptance have shown
significant differences between European and North American (Hoban, 1997) countries, with a higher
resistance recognized among European consumers.  This argument has then been used by public
authorities within Europe to justify their stance on GM foods, which has more recently been negative
—prohibiting their commercial introduction.

Paid Consumer Surveys

Paid Consumer Surveys

Paid Consumer Surveys

Paid Consumer Surveys

Paid Consumer Surveys

Paid Consumer Surveys

Paid Consumer Surveys

Paid Consumer Surveys

Paid Consumer Surveys

Paid Consumer Surveys

Paid Consumer Surveys

Paid Consumer Surveys

Paid Consumer Surveys

Paid Consumer Surveys

Paid Consumer Surveys

Paid Consumer Surveys

Paid Consumer Surveys

Paid Consumer Surveys

Paid Consumer Surveys

Paid Consumer Surveys