Despite the popularity of choice experiments (CEs) for the valuation of environmental goods and services, some of its shortcomings have been only partially addressed by the literature. Among these, of particular saliency, are the hypothetical nature of CEs and the lack of information on joint choices (e.g. choices made by couples) in traditional CEs. In this study, we contribute to the filling of these gaps by investigating joint choices concerning cheeses produced via different processes, involving environmental and social sustainability features. We use a two-stage preference elicitation approach, using first stated and then real consumption choices collected from a sample of 90 couples. In the first stage, each member of the couple took part separately in a web survey with a hypothetical CE. In the second, these couples jointly engaged in a field experiment with monetary incentives in which they jointly chose the cheeses to purchase. This approach allows us to evaluate the role of individual preferences in shaping joint choices and to investigate whether predictions from stated-choice data are congruent with, and validated by, real purchase data. We use CE data to estimate individual preferences with discrete choice models and use joint purchase data via the Multiple Discrete-Continuous Nested Extreme Value model. Results suggest that joint real choices follow a substantively different decision process from that of individual stated choice.
Citation
Franceschinis, C., Scarpa, R., Thiene, M., & Kessels, R. (online). Individual preferences for food items within couples: validating choice experiments predictions with real purchases data. The Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8489.12600
Journal Article Type
Article
Acceptance Date
Oct 25, 2024
Online Publication Date
Nov 29, 2024
Deposit Date
Oct 28, 2024
Publicly Available Date
Dec 6, 2024
Journal
The Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics
