Consumers’ willingness to pay for beef direct sales. A regional comparison across the Pyrenees

Willingness to pay (WTP) for direct market of beef is investigated in two Spanish and two French regions located on both sides of the Pyrenees. Given the novelty of this distribution system, especially in Spain, a contingent valuation approach is undertaken, and a double-bounded model is estimated. Different patterns of awareness, use and WTP are found across regions. Likewise, the profile of current and potential users of direct sale chains is investigated. Experience in the different stages involved from choice to final consumption of beef, intensity of varied beef consumption, familiarity with direct market of food in general, and beef in particular, are some of the relevant factors to explain WTP and the probability of getting engaged into a direct distribution system of beef

Urban consumers´ response to the EU food mountain labelling: an empirical application in Southern Europe

Using beef as a typical mountain product, the paper investigates the role of the mountain origin claim among urban consumers in four Pyrenean bordering regions, in France and Spain, applying a choice experiment. Complementarily, breed, intrinsically linked to beef mountain systems is also studied. An Error Components mixed logit model is estimated and attribute non-attendance is analytically derived. Results suggest that the mountain labeling may have a limited impact on consumption, as it is highly non-attended and its Willingness to Pay is low even after controlling for non-attendance. Nevertheless, preference heterogeneity suggest a feasible niche market in Spain. In contrast, the use of breed as a differentiation claim, not currently used in Spain, could have a more immediate impact on consumers' choices. The paper finds synergies between mountain labelling and other quality schemes.JRC.D.4-Economics of Agricultur