Qingbin Wang

Marketing Problems and Opportunities in Mid-Atlantic Seafood Retailing

Per capita seafood consumption in the United States increased steadily from 10.3 pounds in 1960 to 16.1 pounds in 1987 but has been lower than 16.1 pounds since 1987 (National Marine Fisheries Service). The seafood industry is facing a host of challenges, such as strong competition from less expensive imports and increasing consumer concerns about the safety of seafood. In 1993 more than half of all seafood

Chinese Consumer Demand for Animal Products and Implications for U.S. Pork and Poultry Exports

This paper examines Chinese consumer preference for major animal products and assesses the potential impacts of a reduction in Chinas import tariff on its pork and poultry demand and net import. Our analysis suggests that Chinas demand for animal products will continue to grow as income increases. Using a trade model, results of our scenario analysis indicate that a reduction in Chinas import tariffs will significantly increase its net pork and poultry imports and the U.S. will capture most of the increases. Nevertheless, the impact on the market price in China and the U.S. is likely to be very small.

Willingness to pay for rBST-free milk: a two-limit Tobit model analysis

The labelling of dairy products containing milk from rBST-treated cows has rapidly emerged as an important issue in the US due to the controversy between state and federal legislation and between consumer and industrial groups. This paper evaluates consumer willingness to pay (WTP) for rBST-free milk using data collected from a consumer survey. Estimation results of a two-limit Tobit model suggest that a majority of consumers are willing to pay a premium for rBST-free milk and the WTP is affected by several sociodemographic factors such as income and attitudes toward the use of rBST.

Impact of cholesterol information on US egg consumption: evidence from consumer survey data

Impact of cholesterol information and demographic variables on egg consumption is examined using data from a consumer survey conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Estimation results of a double-hurdle model suggest that information and health concerns about cholesterol represented by three variables are significant factors affecting consumer decisions about whether to consume eggs and how much to consume. Demographic variables with significant effect on the participation and/or consumption decisions include region, employment status, age, body mass index, sex, race and education.

A Non-Nested Test of the AIDS vs. The Translog Demand System

Abstract A non-nested test is used to examine the relative explanatory power of the AIDS and translog demand system. Empirical results based on Chinese urban household data suggest that these two demand systems are not significantly different in explanatory power and elasticity estimates.

China's beer consumption and barley imports

China has emerged as a large beer producer and barley importer but few empirical studies have been reported. This study estimates demand elasticities for alcoholic beverages and tea, using Chinas urban household survey data, and investigates major sources of the rapid growth in Chinas beer consumption and barley imports. Results of an empirical demand analysis indicate that demand for beer and wine is elastic with respect to income but inelastic with respect to both own and cross prices. Findings from this study suggest that Chinas beer demand and barley imports will continue to grow at significant rates.

Impacts of the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact on the WIC Program: Evidence from Boston and Hartford

This paper examines the impacts of the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact (Compact) on the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program using an autoregressive-moving average (ARMA) model and data from Boston and Hartford. While the results for Boston indicate that the difference between the net fluid milk price paid by WIC program and the forecasted fluid milk price with no Compact in effect was not significant over the period of July 1997 to June 1998, the results for Hartford suggest that the net price paid by WIC was significantly greater than the forecasted price with no Compact in effect over the same period. A similar analysis of the changes in markups suggests that the increase in the net fluid milk price paid by the WIC program in Hartford was largely due to increased markups.

Impacts of the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact on Supply, Retail Prices and the WIC Program: An Introduction

The Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact (Compact), the first regional dairy compact in the U.S., has been the focus of a great deal of attention and speculation during the past several years. The Compact was authorized under the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform act of 1996 and was enacted into law by each of the six New England states, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont (U.S. Government). The Compact explicitly recognizes dairy farming as an important component of the New England landscape that provides both cultural and economic benefits to the region. The Compacts stated purposes are to assure the continued viability of dairy farming in the Northeast, as well as its associated support industries, and to provide consumers with an adequate local supply of pure and wholesome milk. The Compact provides a measure of farm fluid milk price control in the New England states in order to help satisfy these goals.