Open AccessGender dynamics in Consumer preferences and willingness to pay for edible mushrooms in Ghana
Author(s) -
Rebecca Owusu,
Florence Sefakor Dekagbey
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
apstract, applied studies in agribusiness and commerce/apstract
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1789-7874
pISSN - 1789-221X
DOI - 10.19041/apstract/2020/1-2/4
Subject(s) - mushroom , willingness to pay , preference , variety (cybernetics) , oyster , mixed logit , economics , ordered logit , logistic regression , business , biology , food science , microeconomics , ecology , mathematics , statistics
This study uses choice experiment to investigate men and women consumers’ preferences and willingness to pay for edible mushrooms in Ghana. We used a mixed logit model to examine preference heterogeneity. The econometric modelling revealed that men consumers have a negative utility for oyster mushrooms compared to straw mushrooms. They also have preference for cheap and locally cultivated mushrooms compared to expensive and imported mushrooms. However, women consumers have preferences for the shiitake mushroom variety compared to the straw mushroom variety. They also prefer cheap mushrooms irrespective of their location and such mushrooms must be frozen and not fresh. The findings highlight variation between men and women in preferences for mushroom variety, however, both have preferences for low prices, suggesting that both genders are economically rational and obey the law of demand.
JEL codes: B21, D12