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Mesurer les préférences du consommateur pour orienter les décisions des pouvoirs publics : l’apport de la méthode expérimentale

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  • Stéphane Robin

    (University of Lyon, Lyon, F-69003, France; CNRS, UMR 5824, GATE, Ecully, F-69130, France; ENS LSH, Lyon, F-69007, France ; Centre Leon Berard, Lyon, F-69003, France)

  • Anne Rozan

    (GSP UMR ENGEES-CEMAGREF, Strasbourg)

  • Bernard Ruffieux

    (GAEL, UMR INRA et Grenoble Universités)

Abstract

Individual preferences must be evaluated to take into account the citizens’ interests for public decisions. Usually, economists assess individual preferences through market decisions. But more often, public decisions impact goods without market prices. Without a market to refer to, evaluating the consequences of a public decision on individual welfare is a challenging methodological problem. In spite of major improvements, preference studies built on hypothetical questions (survey or contingent hypothetical valuations) are biased. Experimental economics is a promising alternative to obtain directly individual valuation for a choice, a scenario or a nonmarket good. Preference study in the lab based on the experimental method is a growing field. This paper aims to present this approach. Precisely, this paper answers the following questions: Why is it interesting to use the experimental method to elicit individual preferences? And how to conduct this category of experiments?

Suggested Citation

  • Stéphane Robin & Anne Rozan & Bernard Ruffieux, 2007. "Mesurer les préférences du consommateur pour orienter les décisions des pouvoirs publics : l’apport de la méthode expérimentale," Working Papers 0723, Groupe d'Analyse et de Théorie Economique Lyon St-Étienne (GATE Lyon St-Étienne), Université de Lyon.
    • Handle: RePEc:gat:wpaper:0723
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    experimental economics; preference elicitation; public decision;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B4 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Economic Methodology
    • C9 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments
    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior

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