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The Private Rationality Of Bottled Water Drinking

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  • W. Kip Viscusi
  • Joel Huber
  • Jason Bell

Abstract

type="main" xml:id="coep12088-abs-0001"> This article examines evidence for the private rationality of decisions to choose bottled water using a large, nationally representative sample. Consumers are more likely to believe that bottled water is safer or tastes better if they have had adverse experiences with tap water or live in states with more prevalent violations of EPA water quality standards. Perceptions of superior safety, taste, and convenience of bottled water boost consumption of bottled water. Blacks and Hispanics are more likely to drink bottled water due to their relatively greater exposure to unsafe water and greater risk beliefs. The coherent network of experiences, beliefs, and actions is consistent with rational consumer choice. (JEL D12, D80, Q50)

Suggested Citation

  • W. Kip Viscusi & Joel Huber & Jason Bell, 2015. "The Private Rationality Of Bottled Water Drinking," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 33(3), pages 450-467, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:coecpo:v:33:y:2015:i:3:p:450-467
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/coep.2015.33.issue-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Paul W. Ballantine & Lucie K. Ozanne & Rachel Bayfield, 2019. "Why Buy Free? Exploring Perceptions of Bottled Water Consumption and Its Environmental Consequences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-11, February.
    2. Russell Triplett & Chiradip Chatterjee & Christopher K. Johnson & Parvez Ahmed, 2019. "Perceptions of Quality and Household Water Usage: A Representative Study in Jacksonville, FL," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 25(2), pages 195-208, May.
    3. Vanaja, Shiuli, 2021. "Are People Making Correct Choices? Drivers of Water Source Choices in Rural Jharkhand, India," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315156, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    4. Ghorban Asgari & Ensieh Komijani & Abdolmotaleb Seid-Mohammadi & Mohammad Khazaei, 2021. "Assessment the Quality of Bottled Drinking Water Through Mamdani Fuzzy Water Quality Index," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 35(15), pages 5431-5452, December.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D80 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - General
    • Q50 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - General

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