Burton, Michael (author / School of Agriculture & Resource Economics, University of Western Austrailia) and Pearse, Dale (author / School of Agriculture & Resource Economics, University of Western Austrailia)
Format:
Online article
Publication Date:
2002
Published:
Australia
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 128 Document Number: C19120
Hallman, W.K. (author), Schilling, B. (author), Hossain, Ferdaus (author), Onyango, B. (author), Adelaja, A. (author / Food Policy Institute), and Food Policy Institute
Format:
Research report
Publication Date:
2002-06
Published:
USA: Food Policy Institute FPI Publications
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C21835
Agricultural Economics (Amsterdam, Netherlands), This paper develops a model of differentiated consumers to examine the consumption effects of genetic modification (GM) under alternative labelling regimes and segregation enforcement scenarios. Analytical results show that if consumers perceive GM products as being different than their traditional counterparts, GM affects consumer welfare and, thus, consumption decisions. When the existence of market imperfections in one or more stages of the supply chain prevents the transmission of cost savings associated with the new technology to consumers, GM results in welfare losses for consumers. The analysis shows that the relative welfare ranking of the `no labelling' and `mandatory labelling' regimes depends on: (i) the level of consumer aversion to GM products; (ii) the size of marketing and segregation costs under mandatory labelling; (iii) the share of the GM product in total production; and (iv) the extent to which GM products are incorrectly labelled as non-GM products.
