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The demand for socially responsible products: empirical evidence from a pilot study on fair trade consumers

Author

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  • Leonardo Becchetti

    (Economics Department, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”)

  • Furio Camillo Rosati

    (Economics Department, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”)

Abstract

We analyze behaviour and motivations of a sample of about one thousand consumers purchasing “fair trade (FT) goods”, i. e. food and artisan goods which include socially responsible (SR) characteristics and a price premium for primary product producers with respect to equivalent non SR products. By estimating a simultaneous two-equation treatment regression model we find that FT products have less than unit income elasticity and their demand is negatively (positively) correlated with geographical distance from the nearest shop (age and awareness of SR criteria). Awareness of SR criteria depends, in turn, on a series of factors (consumption habits, membership of volunteer associations) which, indirectly (via increased awareness), significantly affect consumption. We also measure consumers’ willingness to pay in excess for the SR features of FT products with a contingent evaluation approach and find that it is positively correlated with awareness of SR criteria.

Suggested Citation

  • Leonardo Becchetti & Furio Camillo Rosati, 2005. "The demand for socially responsible products: empirical evidence from a pilot study on fair trade consumers," Working Papers 04, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    • Handle: RePEc:inq:inqwps:ecineq2005-04
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    File URL: http://www.ecineq.org/milano/WP/ECINEQ2005-04.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Leslie J. Verteramo Chiu & Jura Liaukonyte & Miguel I. Gómez & Harry M. Kaiser, 2017. "Socially responsible products: what motivates consumers to pay a premium?," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(19), pages 1833-1846, April.
    2. Benjamin HUYBRECHTS, 2007. "Fondements Et Implications De La Diversité Organisationnelle Au Sein Du Commerce Équitable," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 78(2), pages 195-219, June.
    3. Nindl, Elisabeth, 2014. "An empirical assessment of Fairtrade: A perspective for low-and middle-income countries?," Department of Economics Working Paper Series 160, WU Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    4. Elisabeth Nindl, 2014. "An empirical assessment of Fairtrade: A perspective for low- and middle-income countries?," Department of Economics Working Papers wuwp160, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Department of Economics.
    5. Elisabeth Nindl, 2014. "An empirical assessment of Fairtrade: A perspective for low- and middle-income countries?," EcoMod2014 6866, EcoMod.
    6. Verteramo Chiu, Leslie J. & Gómez, Miguel I. & Kaiser, Harry M. & Yan, Jubo, 2014. "Socially-Responsible Certification Schemes for Smallholder Coffee Farmers: Economics of Giving and Consumer Utility," 2014 Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2014, Minneapolis, Minnesota 170551, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    fair trade; social preferences; willingness to pay;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies

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