A multi‐country study on consumers' valuation for child‐labor‐free chocolate: Implications for child labor in cocoa production. Issue 2 (18th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luckstead, Jeff; Snell, Heather A.; Nalley, Lawton Lanier; Nayga, Rodolfo M.; Sarpaning, Joshua
• Is Part Of: Applied economic perspectives and policy. Volume 44:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 1021
• Page End: 1048
• Publication Date: 2021-03-18
• Subjects: child labor -- cocoa -- willingness to pay; Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- Periodicals; Agriculture and state -- Periodicals; 338.105
• DOI: 10.1002/aepp.13165
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-5790

Abstract

Abstract: Child labor is a preeminent issue of our time. Using a discrete choice experiment, we surveyed consumers in Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States to assess their willingness to pay (WTP) for chocolate labeled as "child‐labor‐free" based on two levels of child labor and two information sets (short and long). Our results indicate that when respondents are shown a definition clarifying the meaning of the child‐labor‐free logo, their WTP in all countries exceeds the 2.81% price premium farmers need to eliminate hazardous forms of child labor. Important implications for child labor in cocoa production are discussed. JEL CLASSIFICATION: C25, J28, J43, J80, Q18