Beliefs and preferences for food-safety policies: A discrete choice model under uncertainty

Abstract

Outcomes of food policies are highly uncertain. Therefore, the public's support for these policies depends on individuals' beliefs and the provision of scientific information. Using data collected from a discrete choice experiment survey, we explore whether new information regarding a food-safety policy influences respondents' support, while controlling for risk and time preferences. Additionally, we examine if support depends on whether information is perceived as either good or bad news. Results from the estimation of parametric error component logit models, based on expected utility theory and rank dependent utility theory, suggest that good and bad news affects preferences and welfare measures.