Mitsuyasu Yabe

Market Segmentation Analysis of Preferences for GM Derived Animal Foods in the UK

This paper undertakes a detailed market segmentation analysis of the demand for GM derived animal foods in the UK with the aim of illustrating how this analysis can provide distinct information that can assists in evaluating the welfare impacts of proposed changes to the EUs GM labelling policy. The specific modelling approach employed was the latent segment (LS) model which allows for the simultaneous determination and explanation of both segment membership and product choice. Based on psychometric and demographic variables as well as choice data, the LS model was able to identify three distinct and behaviourally consistent consumer segments. Further, the LS model was found to outperform alternative econometric approaches for accounting for preference heterogeneity. Finally, our analysis shows how it can yield distinct information over the segmented nature of the food market that can uniquely assist both European policy makers in designing GM labelling regimes and public awareness campaigns as well as the agricultural and food industry in developing pricing, marketing and new product development strategies.

Valuing Human Leptospirosis Prevention Using the Opportunity Cost of Labor

Leptospirosis is a serious public health concern in the Philippines, not only because of its increasing incidence rate, but also because of its significant health and economic impacts. Despite its relatively high seroprevalence, knowledge on the economic burden of disease, particularly on the value that the society places on disease prevention remains limited. Obtaining such information is important within the context of public health policy. This study was conducted in Metro Manila to determine the economic burden of leptospirosis, by asking respondents about their willingness to contribute to labor (WTCL) for the prevention of leptospirosis. The respondents pledged an average labor contribution of 10.66 h/month. The average WTCL corresponded to a monetary value of US

Residents’ Preferences for Household Kitchen Waste Source Separation Services in Beijing: A Choice Experiment Approach

4.01 per month when valued using the opportunity cost of labor (leisure rate of time). From the monetized labor contribution, the total economic value of preventing leptospirosis was estimated at US

Impact of Industrial Water Pollution on Rice Production in Vietnam

124.97 million per annum, which represents 1.13% of Metro Manila’s gross domestic product (GDP). Estimates from a Tobit regression model identified the respondents’ knowledge regarding leptospirosis, the susceptibility of their homes to flooding, and the proximity of their homes to sewers as significant factors to consider when developing resource contribution programs for leptospirosis prevention. More efforts need to be made in developing community level preventive programs, and in improving public’s knowledge and awareness about leptospirosis.

Framework for improvement of farmland biodiversity in Japan

A source separation program for household kitchen waste has been in place in Beijing since 2010. However, the participation rate of residents is far from satisfactory. This study was carried out to identify residents’ preferences based on an improved management strategy for household kitchen waste source separation. We determine the preferences of residents in an ad hoc sample, according to their age level, for source separation services and their marginal willingness to accept compensation for the service attributes. We used a multinomial logit model to analyze the data, collected from 394 residents in Haidian and Dongcheng districts of Beijing City through a choice experiment. The results show there are differences of preferences on the services attributes between young, middle, and old age residents. Low compensation is not a major factor to promote young and middle age residents accept the proposed separation services. However, on average, most of them prefer services with frequent, evening, plastic bag attributes and without instructor. This study indicates that there is a potential for local government to improve the current separation services accordingly.

Using discrete choice modeling to evaluate the preferences and willingness to pay for leptospirosis vaccine

Vietnam has achieved the average GDP growth rate of 6.71% per year. The industrial sector has mainly contributed economic development in Vietnam, with annual growth of 12% during the period of 200-2009. In line with its industrialization and modernization policies, Vietnam has rapidly changed economic structure from agriculture base to industrial economy. The industrial and construction sector only contributed 26 percent of national GDP in 1986, but it rapidly increases to 40.3 percent in 2009.

Productive Efficiency of Soybean Production in the Mekong River Delta of Vietnam

The first agri-environmental programme in Japan, which started in 2011, is aimed at the conservation of biodiversity on farmland in Japan. For its smooth enforcement, a framework is required in which biodiversity conservation is visible and clear to farmers and the public. Such programmes will be effective when options can easily be adopted and the concept is appropriate and regionally specific for the farmers. While the result-oriented payment approach provides biodiversity’s concrete contribution to the improvement of farm settings, entry-level incentives are also necessary to encourage farmers’ initial participation, as biodiversity has an environmental value as public goods.

The Comparative Advantage of Soybean Production in Vietnam: A Policy Analysis Matrix Approach

Leptospirosis is highly endemic in the Philippines and a serious concern to public health. Local research on candidate vaccine is moving through the development pipeline. The availability of vaccines alone does not guarantee acceptance because individuals’ vaccination choice decision is influenced by several factors. This study assessed how vaccine attributes and socio-demographic factors affect the acceptability of leptospirosis vaccine; and estimated individuals’ willingness to pay for leptospirosis vaccine. A discrete choice experiment was conducted among leptospirosis and non-leptospirosis case respondents (n = 342) living in Metro Manila. Random Parameters Logit model was used to estimate the relative importance of vaccine attributes and socio-demographic variables on respondents’ leptospirosis vaccination choice decision. The estimated model coefficients were used to derive implicit prices and willingness to pay for leptospirosis vaccine. Both case respondents preferred leptospirosis vaccine with 70–100% efficacy, mild to moderate risk of side-effects, given in a single shot, and at a lower price. Non-leptospirosis case respondents preferred a vaccine with 7 to 10 y of protection, while leptospirosis case respondents preferred a vaccine with 10 y protection. The probability of leptospirosis vaccination acceptance was affected by respondents’ age, education, family size and income, proximity of home to rivers and sewers, and leptospirosis awareness level. Respondents’ willingness to pay for leptospirosis vaccine (US

Technical and environmental efficiency of eco-friendly rice production in the upstream region of the Vietnamese Mekong delta

31.14–US

Modelling the factors affecting the adoption of eco-friendly rice production in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

65.89) was higher than the Japanese retail price (US