Mario D’Amico

A multivariate statistical analysis on the consumers of organic products

In recent decades there has been a tendency towards a “standardization” in the consumer habits of people living in countries with advanced economic development. This has been caused both by the change in the products available and in lifestyles and by the “power” acquired by modern distribution channels (large retail distribution). Apart from this development, however, there has been increasing interest, particularly in the last ten years, in dietary, health and hygiene products characterized by high quality production and content, which may or may not be closely connected with the history and/or culture of the territory. In order, therefore, to understand the mechanisms that regulate the consumer market of organic produce better, a survey was carried out to define the use, purchase and sensitivity to the price of these products in relation to the preferences expressed by consumers as regards the benefits associated with the consumption.

When Consumers and Products Come From the Same Place: Preferences and WTP for Geographical Indication Differ Across Regional Identity Groups

ABSTRACT This article contributes to the existing literature on geographical indications by observing consumers’ stated preference for extra-virgin olive oil in two groups differing in their regional identity. In particular, consumers from two groups were asked to rank products in a contingent ranking survey. One group (“insiders,” Sicilian consumers) shared origin with a good product (Sicilian oil); the other group (“outsiders,” Rome and Milan) presented “no association” consumer-product. Results indicate that insiders are willing to pay more for goods originating from the region they identify with compared with a region associated with outsiders. Identity seems to give a bias by which a local product is not necessarily perceived as superior in absolute terms, but in relative terms: outside products are never considered better than inside options but are either inferior or equal in perceived value.

Agriculture and local governance in Mexico: the Michoacàn case

Abstract The opening of trade barriers in Mexico caused a significant growth of important economic indicators such as GDP and exports. This positive trend is not however quite generalized, because the resulting economic benefits were not widespread perceived as by whole population. The process of economic integration caused a crisis for the agricultural sector with no precedent in Mexican history, depressing some of the traditional productive sectors. This study reports the results of a search on agriculture of Michoacan, carried out with a “participatory approach”, and analyze the effects perceived from smallholders and local institutional after the introduction of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).