Time scarcity is an important driver for food choices. Despite this, little research has been con... more Time scarcity is an important driver for food choices. Despite this, little research has been conducted on the preferences of consumers and their willingness to pay for reduced food preparation times. We have explored consumer preferences with respect to saving time in cooking, using a payment card technique with an online survey on a sample of German (486 in number) and Italian (494) consumers. Our findings differ from those of other studies on the same context of daily duties, such as commuting, which note a general willingness to pay for time-saving. Indeed, latent class analysis shows three segments: the 'quickies', who are willing to pay a premium for saving time; the 'foodies', who receive utility in cooking; and the 'indifferent', for whom the time needed to prepare meals is not a choice factor. Profiling within our sample indicates that Italians, young people, and large families show a higher willingness to pay for saving time in cooking. Consumer heterogeneity calls on convenience food producers for targeted marketing strategies to create value, from product development to communication and distribution.
We tested the hypothesis that individuals may act differently when buying a bottle of wine for th... more We tested the hypothesis that individuals may act differently when buying a bottle of wine for themselves than they do when buying wine as a gift. Using a between-subject design, we estimated the differences in consumer preference for these two occasions. We conducted a choice experiment on 618 Italian wine consumers and included the attributes of price, geographical indication (i.e. IGT, DOC, or DOCG), organic claim, and brand (i.e. famous producer or a non-famous producer). By applying an error component random parameters logit model, we detected relevant differences between the two scenarios in terms of the relative importance of the studied attributes. The gift-giving scenario was further investigated using a latent class model, which identified three segments of consumers; we profiled these according to personal attitudes and wine knowledge. Our results show a relevant heterogeneity among consumers’ preferences for the gift-giving scenario, with geographical indication having a low impact and brand and organic claim playing a pivotal role. This study provides relevant insights for winemakers and retailers regarding diversifying marketing strategies.
In agriculture, water is a fundamental but increasingly scarce resource that requires careful use... more In agriculture, water is a fundamental but increasingly scarce resource that requires careful use. The goal of fostering water-savings could be achieved with a regulation that imposes more efficient irrigation systems. This might represent the only policy option when water withdrawals cannot be controlled and when the operational context does not allow filling the information asymmetry between policy makers and farmers with metering systems, quotas, or market rights. The regulation could involve higher costs for farmers. However, it could represent an opportunity to increase farm revenues if consumers are willing to pay a higher price for goods produced according to an ecological standard. Knowledge of the costs and possible benefits is relevant because it would enable us to understand the potential cost allocation among stakeholders according to how the policy is designed. The results of this study indicate that the management cost of a sustainable irrigation system could be at most 48% greater than that of a wasteful, traditional system. However, the higher costs of the regulation could be compensated for because consumers are willing to pay 6.8% more for less intensive water-use agricultural products. Therefore, a regulation associated with the promotion of hypothetical water-saving label can be the best strategy to irrigation efficiency in agriculture.
The European mandatory labeling system for fishery products excludes the indication of the catch ... more The European mandatory labeling system for fishery products excludes the indication of the catch or production origin for fish-based processed food. However, while producers can voluntarily indicate this information on labels, they incur extra production costs for following procedures for tracing and guaranteeing the origin of their ingredients. Our study investigates whether consumers can be attracted by a marketing strategy based on transparency and traceability. We applied a dichotomous choice contingent valuation method on a sample of 250 Italian consumers. Findings indicate that consumers are willing to pay an average premium price of 4.75% for knowing the catch zone of fish used as ingredients of fish-based processed food (seafood salad or marinated anchovies in this study). The premium price is positively influenced by education and gender.
In the scenario of food consumptions, we witness the consumer's growing consideration for the " c... more In the scenario of food consumptions, we witness the consumer's growing consideration for the " convenience " attribute. Our study intends to understand the consumer behaviour towards convenience-processed foods by analysing in a single model the role of beliefs, personal traits, social influence and market availability. We applied a Structural Equation Model (SEM) to a representative sample of 426 Italian consumers. The results show a correlation between intention to consume convenience-processed foods and social influence, market availability and several personal traits, suggesting strategies for the development of the convenience food market.
While the share of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries in rural economies has declined, the impo... more While the share of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries in rural economies has declined, the importance of diversification activities has increased. The aim of this study is to investigate how structural factors affect both the decision of diversification into on-farm non-agricultural activities and the total labour assigned to them, measured in terms of the workdays allocated to producing diversification activities. Using Tuscany, a region in central Italy, as a case study, a negative binomial hurdle model has been applied to represent the two steps involved in farmers' behaviour. Farmers first decide whether to diversify and then decide the amount of farm resources to devote to diversification. The results have revealed that farms located in regions more distant from urban areas are more likely to diversify, but that distance is not an influential factor in predicting the number of workdays dedicated to diversification. In addition, small family farms are less likely to diversify than large farms, and those that do so dedicate fewer workdays to diversification activities. A possible explanation for this evidence is that structural and endowment constraints are entrance barriers for involvement in on-farm non-agricultural production.
Consumer preferences about locally grown foods have been studied principally as they concern meal... more Consumer preferences about locally grown foods have been studied principally as they concern meals consumed in the home, while knowledge about consumptions outside the home is still fragmented. Studying the relationship between local foods and out of the home consumptions instead proves particularly interesting, considering the growth of eating out habits. In this scenario, our paper intends to verify whether using products of local origin in restaurants can represent an element capable of influencing consumer preferences positively. The analysis was developed by means of a choice experiment between alternatives that differ in certification of origin, process certification, price and the main characteristics of the restaurant. The survey was conducted on a representative sample of Italian (500) and German (500) consumers. Applying Latent Class Modelling has enabled us to segment the market and profile the segments. Profiling was performed considering the socio-demographic characteristics, the choice motivations not expressly inserted in the choice experiment and the Schwartz value system. The results show not only a marked heterogeneity of preferences but also a consistent consumer segment willing to pay a relevant premium price for meals made from a prevalence of products certified as being of local origin. This segment, labelled 'locavores', appears across both countries, despite differing gastronomic traditions. Locavores are mainly young people who prioritise self-enhancement, stimulation and conservation in the sense of respect for traditions and being members of their communities. The 'Discussions and conclusions' section handles the principal implications from the viewpoint of the decisions of restaurant owners, as well as from that of farmers.
Several studies have stressed the existence of agglomeration effects in organic farming. However,... more Several studies have stressed the existence of agglomeration effects in organic farming. However, due to a different incentive framework, viticulture can be considered an exception in the light of this general evidence. Applying a spatial Durbin Bayesian probit model to census data for the area of production of Chianti Classico DOCG (Italy), no spatial relation in the farmer’s decision to convert to or maintain organic viticulture emerged and spatial spillovers have a marginal role in terms of affecting viticulturists’ behaviour. An explanation for this evidence is the existence of quasi-monopsonic power in output markets with strict production standards, which limits spatial agglomeration effects. Structural factors such as small-size farm, farmer education and younger age are the main direct determinants for predicting the likelihood of being involved in organic viticulture
Traditional foods are facing new market challenges tied to current trends in food habits and thei... more Traditional foods are facing new market challenges tied to current trends in food habits and their determinants, such as the decline of domestic food preparation, the increased demand for convenience foods, the increasing importance of industrial food production, and the evolution of regulations on food safety. In this context our study aims at improving the knowledge of consumer segments in traditional foods market in order to develop better marketing strategies. The preferences for different credence attributes are investigated applying a latent class choice model to the extra-virgin olive oil market in Italy. Results show the existence of a marked heterogeneity of preferences, which determines the presence of both vertical and horizontal differentiation of the product.
Unhealthy food choice is one of the main causes of being overweight. Nutritionists blame a partic... more Unhealthy food choice is one of the main causes of being overweight. Nutritionists blame a particular category of food: junk food. Several authors have proposed a fat tax for reducing the junk food demand, but others have demonstrated that these taxes must be very high in order to be effective. Therefore, a warning label about calorie content may be an alternative way to reduce the consumption of junk food. In this exploratory study, using students as respondents, a high-calorie warning label is explored with an incentive compatible valuation method. The results indicate that a high-calorie warning label has little effect on respondents' choices, even when they have no prior familiarity with the food.
Recent Patents on Food, Nutrition & Agriculture, 2015
The wine-growing sector is probably one of the agricultural areas where the ties between product ... more The wine-growing sector is probably one of the agricultural areas where the ties between product quality and territory are most evident. Geographical indication is a key element in this context, and previous literature has focused on demonstrating how certification of origin influences the wine purchaser's behavior. However, less attention has been devoted to understanding how the value of a given name of origin may or may not be determined by the various elements that characterize the typicality of the wine product on that territory: vines, production techniques, etc. It thus seems interesting, in this framework, to evaluate the impacts of several characteristic attributes on the preferences of consumers. This paper will analyse, in particular, the role of the presence of autochthonous vines in consumers' choices. The connection between name of origin and autochthonous vines appears to be particularly important in achieving product "recognisability", while introducing "international" vines in considerable measure into blends might result in the loss of the peculiarity of certain characteristic and typical local productions. A standardization of taste could thus risk compromising the reputation of traditional production areas. The objective of this study is to estimate, through an experimental auction on the case study of Chianti, the differences in willingness to pay for wines produced with different shares of typical vines. The results show that consumers have a willingness to pay for wine produced with typical blends 34% greater than for wines with international blends. However, this difference is not confirmed by blind tasting, raising the issue of the relationship between ex-ante expectations about vine typicality and real wine sensorial characteristics. Finally, some recent patents related to wine testing and wine packaging are reviewed.
The development of strategies for biodiversity analysis is critical at several levels, particular... more The development of strategies for biodiversity analysis is critical at several levels, particularly at the national one. The World Conference on Biological Diversity held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the European Natura 2000 network and the Environmental Conference of the Regions of Europe (EN.CO.RE) brought forward several measures aiming at the preservation of Biodiversity. Targets for biodiversity preservation include protected areas among others. Accordingly, the analysis of the degree of biodiversity of protected areas proves to be a valid tool to evaluate the effectiveness of those measures. The present manuscript analyses the degree of some relevant features of biodiversity in the Region of Tuscany, through the implementation of multidimensional indicators in a Spatial MultiCriteria Analysis. After a state of the art of biodiversity definition, four indicators have been used for the analysis. A raster map in which pixels have higher or lower values of biodiversity was produced in order to investigate which of these values might be located in protected areas. Protected areas with high value of biodiversity confirmed that the adopted environmental policies are positively related to the conservation of biodiversity. The result of the analysis, corroborated through auto-correlational statistical analysis, has highlighted the important role of protected areas in maintaining a certain degree of biodiversity.
Consumer behavior toward traditional specialties varies according to the cultural context of cons... more Consumer behavior toward traditional specialties varies according to the cultural context of consumption. It thus becomes crucial to develop marketing strategies that target segments with different levels of familiarity with food. Our article purposes to analyze the purchase drivers of traditional foods known to consumers because of their reiterated consumption. The importance of the product’s attributes, the purchasing motivations, and the information channels are studied by applying the CUB model, which utilizes a probabilistic structure that simulates the individual’s psychological mechanism in adopting a choice of preference. The case study is that of extra-virgin olive oil in Italy, where this product is a fundamental element of the culinary tradition. The results show that in the ambit of traditional specialties, in contexts of elevated familiarity, the traditional information channels of marketing are less effective and call for strategies based on a more direct connection between consumer and producer.
Support for organic farming is a key strategy of rural development policies in several countries.... more Support for organic farming is a key strategy of rural development policies in several countries. This paper studied the spatial pattern of participation in agro-environmnetal policy the policies designing to foster diffusion of organic farming. The ultimate goal is to investigate the impact of local factors for improving the policy targeting. Indicators of spatial association and a spatial econometrics model were performed for the analysis. The results show regional agglomeration effects of the rate of participants to the measures adopted to promote organic farming. In addition, a spatial relation among the farms that obtain public support is found, highlighting that the diffusion of participation is driven mainly by imitation process and external economies of scale.
An increasing share of farmer revenues derives from on-farm nonagricultural activities. This pape... more An increasing share of farmer revenues derives from on-farm nonagricultural activities. This paper investigates the determinants in the choice to diversify by simulating farmers’ behaviours dividing the diversification decision into two steps: deciding the intensity of diversification. This two-step process is estimated by applying the Heckman sample selection model. The results confirm the relevance of on-farm diversification for risk exposure reduction for vulnerable farms. The worst external conditions exhibited no effect on the likelihood to diversify. However, farms located in marginal areas were more dependent for their livelihood on on-farm nonagricultural production. Moreover, closeness to urban areas reduces the probability of diversifying but had no effect on intensification.
Increasing importance has been placed on understanding how the environment in which people live c... more Increasing importance has been placed on understanding how the environment in which people live can help anti-obesity behaviour and policy. This tendency represents a shift away from a model characterised by individual responsibility in favour of one that focuses on so-called ‘obesogenic environments’. Although an extensive body of literature stresses the importance of urban design in helping to eradicate obesity, there is, nevertheless, significant uncertainty in the science surrounding the relationship between body size and broad geographic areas. In this paper, we therefore widen the perspective from urban area planning to land planning. Specifically, we outline the incidence of forests helping to create an environment more favourable to outdoor physical activities, which at least improve health by lowering body mass index. The results demonstrate a relationship between forests and lower average body mass index (BMI); in other words, a reduction in the risk of being overweight. There is, however, no impact on obesity.
The quality of life in rural populations plays a key role in rural development policies.
Starting... more The quality of life in rural populations plays a key role in rural development policies. Starting from a capabilities approach, the aim of this work is to evaluate, with a simultaneous quantile regression, the heterogeneity of the determinants of quality of life by analyzing the opportunities addressed to rural populations. These opportunities are quantified as the availability of healthcare, education, economic opportunities, environmental conditions, human pressure, and the accessibility of the areas. The focus on capabilities represents a change from the prevailing setting, which tends to assess levels of well-being by functioning as a proxy of capabilities. The results show that the availability of basic services, especially those used frequently, are essential elements for maintaining adequate levels of quality of life in rural areas.
The recent economic crisis has brought considerable changes also to food consumption: on one hand... more The recent economic crisis has brought considerable changes also to food consumption: on one hand, many products have recorded consistent absolute declines in demand, while on the other hand, we have witnessed preferences shift towards low-cost foods or, in any event, foods of lower quality standards. In order to study these phenomena and, especially, the strategies firms adopt to confront them, the wine sector constitutes a particularly interesting focus due to its wide supply range and the elevated reactivity to price and income of demand. Our paper intends to take a close look at wine consumptions, focusing on the sales made on the Mass Retail Trading (MRT) channel from 2009 to 2013, and to conduct a thorough analysis of the performances of the single products, in view of pointing out the sector's overall trend, as well as the principal typologies of wine, in terms of their sales results in that period. Applying Latent Class Regression has permitted us to identify six explicative models of performances, demonstrating the effect on sales of the structural characteristics of productions and sales strategies.
Time scarcity is an important driver for food choices. Despite this, little research has been con... more Time scarcity is an important driver for food choices. Despite this, little research has been conducted on the preferences of consumers and their willingness to pay for reduced food preparation times. We have explored consumer preferences with respect to saving time in cooking, using a payment card technique with an online survey on a sample of German (486 in number) and Italian (494) consumers. Our findings differ from those of other studies on the same context of daily duties, such as commuting, which note a general willingness to pay for time-saving. Indeed, latent class analysis shows three segments: the 'quickies', who are willing to pay a premium for saving time; the 'foodies', who receive utility in cooking; and the 'indifferent', for whom the time needed to prepare meals is not a choice factor. Profiling within our sample indicates that Italians, young people, and large families show a higher willingness to pay for saving time in cooking. Consumer heterogeneity calls on convenience food producers for targeted marketing strategies to create value, from product development to communication and distribution.
We tested the hypothesis that individuals may act differently when buying a bottle of wine for th... more We tested the hypothesis that individuals may act differently when buying a bottle of wine for themselves than they do when buying wine as a gift. Using a between-subject design, we estimated the differences in consumer preference for these two occasions. We conducted a choice experiment on 618 Italian wine consumers and included the attributes of price, geographical indication (i.e. IGT, DOC, or DOCG), organic claim, and brand (i.e. famous producer or a non-famous producer). By applying an error component random parameters logit model, we detected relevant differences between the two scenarios in terms of the relative importance of the studied attributes. The gift-giving scenario was further investigated using a latent class model, which identified three segments of consumers; we profiled these according to personal attitudes and wine knowledge. Our results show a relevant heterogeneity among consumers’ preferences for the gift-giving scenario, with geographical indication having a low impact and brand and organic claim playing a pivotal role. This study provides relevant insights for winemakers and retailers regarding diversifying marketing strategies.
In agriculture, water is a fundamental but increasingly scarce resource that requires careful use... more In agriculture, water is a fundamental but increasingly scarce resource that requires careful use. The goal of fostering water-savings could be achieved with a regulation that imposes more efficient irrigation systems. This might represent the only policy option when water withdrawals cannot be controlled and when the operational context does not allow filling the information asymmetry between policy makers and farmers with metering systems, quotas, or market rights. The regulation could involve higher costs for farmers. However, it could represent an opportunity to increase farm revenues if consumers are willing to pay a higher price for goods produced according to an ecological standard. Knowledge of the costs and possible benefits is relevant because it would enable us to understand the potential cost allocation among stakeholders according to how the policy is designed. The results of this study indicate that the management cost of a sustainable irrigation system could be at most 48% greater than that of a wasteful, traditional system. However, the higher costs of the regulation could be compensated for because consumers are willing to pay 6.8% more for less intensive water-use agricultural products. Therefore, a regulation associated with the promotion of hypothetical water-saving label can be the best strategy to irrigation efficiency in agriculture.
The European mandatory labeling system for fishery products excludes the indication of the catch ... more The European mandatory labeling system for fishery products excludes the indication of the catch or production origin for fish-based processed food. However, while producers can voluntarily indicate this information on labels, they incur extra production costs for following procedures for tracing and guaranteeing the origin of their ingredients. Our study investigates whether consumers can be attracted by a marketing strategy based on transparency and traceability. We applied a dichotomous choice contingent valuation method on a sample of 250 Italian consumers. Findings indicate that consumers are willing to pay an average premium price of 4.75% for knowing the catch zone of fish used as ingredients of fish-based processed food (seafood salad or marinated anchovies in this study). The premium price is positively influenced by education and gender.
In the scenario of food consumptions, we witness the consumer's growing consideration for the " c... more In the scenario of food consumptions, we witness the consumer's growing consideration for the " convenience " attribute. Our study intends to understand the consumer behaviour towards convenience-processed foods by analysing in a single model the role of beliefs, personal traits, social influence and market availability. We applied a Structural Equation Model (SEM) to a representative sample of 426 Italian consumers. The results show a correlation between intention to consume convenience-processed foods and social influence, market availability and several personal traits, suggesting strategies for the development of the convenience food market.
While the share of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries in rural economies has declined, the impo... more While the share of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries in rural economies has declined, the importance of diversification activities has increased. The aim of this study is to investigate how structural factors affect both the decision of diversification into on-farm non-agricultural activities and the total labour assigned to them, measured in terms of the workdays allocated to producing diversification activities. Using Tuscany, a region in central Italy, as a case study, a negative binomial hurdle model has been applied to represent the two steps involved in farmers' behaviour. Farmers first decide whether to diversify and then decide the amount of farm resources to devote to diversification. The results have revealed that farms located in regions more distant from urban areas are more likely to diversify, but that distance is not an influential factor in predicting the number of workdays dedicated to diversification. In addition, small family farms are less likely to diversify than large farms, and those that do so dedicate fewer workdays to diversification activities. A possible explanation for this evidence is that structural and endowment constraints are entrance barriers for involvement in on-farm non-agricultural production.
Consumer preferences about locally grown foods have been studied principally as they concern meal... more Consumer preferences about locally grown foods have been studied principally as they concern meals consumed in the home, while knowledge about consumptions outside the home is still fragmented. Studying the relationship between local foods and out of the home consumptions instead proves particularly interesting, considering the growth of eating out habits. In this scenario, our paper intends to verify whether using products of local origin in restaurants can represent an element capable of influencing consumer preferences positively. The analysis was developed by means of a choice experiment between alternatives that differ in certification of origin, process certification, price and the main characteristics of the restaurant. The survey was conducted on a representative sample of Italian (500) and German (500) consumers. Applying Latent Class Modelling has enabled us to segment the market and profile the segments. Profiling was performed considering the socio-demographic characteristics, the choice motivations not expressly inserted in the choice experiment and the Schwartz value system. The results show not only a marked heterogeneity of preferences but also a consistent consumer segment willing to pay a relevant premium price for meals made from a prevalence of products certified as being of local origin. This segment, labelled 'locavores', appears across both countries, despite differing gastronomic traditions. Locavores are mainly young people who prioritise self-enhancement, stimulation and conservation in the sense of respect for traditions and being members of their communities. The 'Discussions and conclusions' section handles the principal implications from the viewpoint of the decisions of restaurant owners, as well as from that of farmers.
Several studies have stressed the existence of agglomeration effects in organic farming. However,... more Several studies have stressed the existence of agglomeration effects in organic farming. However, due to a different incentive framework, viticulture can be considered an exception in the light of this general evidence. Applying a spatial Durbin Bayesian probit model to census data for the area of production of Chianti Classico DOCG (Italy), no spatial relation in the farmer’s decision to convert to or maintain organic viticulture emerged and spatial spillovers have a marginal role in terms of affecting viticulturists’ behaviour. An explanation for this evidence is the existence of quasi-monopsonic power in output markets with strict production standards, which limits spatial agglomeration effects. Structural factors such as small-size farm, farmer education and younger age are the main direct determinants for predicting the likelihood of being involved in organic viticulture
Traditional foods are facing new market challenges tied to current trends in food habits and thei... more Traditional foods are facing new market challenges tied to current trends in food habits and their determinants, such as the decline of domestic food preparation, the increased demand for convenience foods, the increasing importance of industrial food production, and the evolution of regulations on food safety. In this context our study aims at improving the knowledge of consumer segments in traditional foods market in order to develop better marketing strategies. The preferences for different credence attributes are investigated applying a latent class choice model to the extra-virgin olive oil market in Italy. Results show the existence of a marked heterogeneity of preferences, which determines the presence of both vertical and horizontal differentiation of the product.
Unhealthy food choice is one of the main causes of being overweight. Nutritionists blame a partic... more Unhealthy food choice is one of the main causes of being overweight. Nutritionists blame a particular category of food: junk food. Several authors have proposed a fat tax for reducing the junk food demand, but others have demonstrated that these taxes must be very high in order to be effective. Therefore, a warning label about calorie content may be an alternative way to reduce the consumption of junk food. In this exploratory study, using students as respondents, a high-calorie warning label is explored with an incentive compatible valuation method. The results indicate that a high-calorie warning label has little effect on respondents' choices, even when they have no prior familiarity with the food.
Recent Patents on Food, Nutrition & Agriculture, 2015
The wine-growing sector is probably one of the agricultural areas where the ties between product ... more The wine-growing sector is probably one of the agricultural areas where the ties between product quality and territory are most evident. Geographical indication is a key element in this context, and previous literature has focused on demonstrating how certification of origin influences the wine purchaser's behavior. However, less attention has been devoted to understanding how the value of a given name of origin may or may not be determined by the various elements that characterize the typicality of the wine product on that territory: vines, production techniques, etc. It thus seems interesting, in this framework, to evaluate the impacts of several characteristic attributes on the preferences of consumers. This paper will analyse, in particular, the role of the presence of autochthonous vines in consumers' choices. The connection between name of origin and autochthonous vines appears to be particularly important in achieving product "recognisability", while introducing "international" vines in considerable measure into blends might result in the loss of the peculiarity of certain characteristic and typical local productions. A standardization of taste could thus risk compromising the reputation of traditional production areas. The objective of this study is to estimate, through an experimental auction on the case study of Chianti, the differences in willingness to pay for wines produced with different shares of typical vines. The results show that consumers have a willingness to pay for wine produced with typical blends 34% greater than for wines with international blends. However, this difference is not confirmed by blind tasting, raising the issue of the relationship between ex-ante expectations about vine typicality and real wine sensorial characteristics. Finally, some recent patents related to wine testing and wine packaging are reviewed.
The development of strategies for biodiversity analysis is critical at several levels, particular... more The development of strategies for biodiversity analysis is critical at several levels, particularly at the national one. The World Conference on Biological Diversity held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the European Natura 2000 network and the Environmental Conference of the Regions of Europe (EN.CO.RE) brought forward several measures aiming at the preservation of Biodiversity. Targets for biodiversity preservation include protected areas among others. Accordingly, the analysis of the degree of biodiversity of protected areas proves to be a valid tool to evaluate the effectiveness of those measures. The present manuscript analyses the degree of some relevant features of biodiversity in the Region of Tuscany, through the implementation of multidimensional indicators in a Spatial MultiCriteria Analysis. After a state of the art of biodiversity definition, four indicators have been used for the analysis. A raster map in which pixels have higher or lower values of biodiversity was produced in order to investigate which of these values might be located in protected areas. Protected areas with high value of biodiversity confirmed that the adopted environmental policies are positively related to the conservation of biodiversity. The result of the analysis, corroborated through auto-correlational statistical analysis, has highlighted the important role of protected areas in maintaining a certain degree of biodiversity.
Consumer behavior toward traditional specialties varies according to the cultural context of cons... more Consumer behavior toward traditional specialties varies according to the cultural context of consumption. It thus becomes crucial to develop marketing strategies that target segments with different levels of familiarity with food. Our article purposes to analyze the purchase drivers of traditional foods known to consumers because of their reiterated consumption. The importance of the product’s attributes, the purchasing motivations, and the information channels are studied by applying the CUB model, which utilizes a probabilistic structure that simulates the individual’s psychological mechanism in adopting a choice of preference. The case study is that of extra-virgin olive oil in Italy, where this product is a fundamental element of the culinary tradition. The results show that in the ambit of traditional specialties, in contexts of elevated familiarity, the traditional information channels of marketing are less effective and call for strategies based on a more direct connection between consumer and producer.
Support for organic farming is a key strategy of rural development policies in several countries.... more Support for organic farming is a key strategy of rural development policies in several countries. This paper studied the spatial pattern of participation in agro-environmnetal policy the policies designing to foster diffusion of organic farming. The ultimate goal is to investigate the impact of local factors for improving the policy targeting. Indicators of spatial association and a spatial econometrics model were performed for the analysis. The results show regional agglomeration effects of the rate of participants to the measures adopted to promote organic farming. In addition, a spatial relation among the farms that obtain public support is found, highlighting that the diffusion of participation is driven mainly by imitation process and external economies of scale.
An increasing share of farmer revenues derives from on-farm nonagricultural activities. This pape... more An increasing share of farmer revenues derives from on-farm nonagricultural activities. This paper investigates the determinants in the choice to diversify by simulating farmers’ behaviours dividing the diversification decision into two steps: deciding the intensity of diversification. This two-step process is estimated by applying the Heckman sample selection model. The results confirm the relevance of on-farm diversification for risk exposure reduction for vulnerable farms. The worst external conditions exhibited no effect on the likelihood to diversify. However, farms located in marginal areas were more dependent for their livelihood on on-farm nonagricultural production. Moreover, closeness to urban areas reduces the probability of diversifying but had no effect on intensification.
Increasing importance has been placed on understanding how the environment in which people live c... more Increasing importance has been placed on understanding how the environment in which people live can help anti-obesity behaviour and policy. This tendency represents a shift away from a model characterised by individual responsibility in favour of one that focuses on so-called ‘obesogenic environments’. Although an extensive body of literature stresses the importance of urban design in helping to eradicate obesity, there is, nevertheless, significant uncertainty in the science surrounding the relationship between body size and broad geographic areas. In this paper, we therefore widen the perspective from urban area planning to land planning. Specifically, we outline the incidence of forests helping to create an environment more favourable to outdoor physical activities, which at least improve health by lowering body mass index. The results demonstrate a relationship between forests and lower average body mass index (BMI); in other words, a reduction in the risk of being overweight. There is, however, no impact on obesity.
The quality of life in rural populations plays a key role in rural development policies.
Starting... more The quality of life in rural populations plays a key role in rural development policies. Starting from a capabilities approach, the aim of this work is to evaluate, with a simultaneous quantile regression, the heterogeneity of the determinants of quality of life by analyzing the opportunities addressed to rural populations. These opportunities are quantified as the availability of healthcare, education, economic opportunities, environmental conditions, human pressure, and the accessibility of the areas. The focus on capabilities represents a change from the prevailing setting, which tends to assess levels of well-being by functioning as a proxy of capabilities. The results show that the availability of basic services, especially those used frequently, are essential elements for maintaining adequate levels of quality of life in rural areas.
The recent economic crisis has brought considerable changes also to food consumption: on one hand... more The recent economic crisis has brought considerable changes also to food consumption: on one hand, many products have recorded consistent absolute declines in demand, while on the other hand, we have witnessed preferences shift towards low-cost foods or, in any event, foods of lower quality standards. In order to study these phenomena and, especially, the strategies firms adopt to confront them, the wine sector constitutes a particularly interesting focus due to its wide supply range and the elevated reactivity to price and income of demand. Our paper intends to take a close look at wine consumptions, focusing on the sales made on the Mass Retail Trading (MRT) channel from 2009 to 2013, and to conduct a thorough analysis of the performances of the single products, in view of pointing out the sector's overall trend, as well as the principal typologies of wine, in terms of their sales results in that period. Applying Latent Class Regression has permitted us to identify six explicative models of performances, demonstrating the effect on sales of the structural characteristics of productions and sales strategies.
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Papers by Fabio Boncinelli
Starting from a capabilities approach, the aim of this work is to evaluate, with a
simultaneous quantile regression, the heterogeneity of the determinants of quality of life by
analyzing the opportunities addressed to rural populations. These opportunities are
quantified as the availability of healthcare, education, economic opportunities, environmental
conditions, human pressure, and the accessibility of the areas. The focus on
capabilities represents a change from the prevailing setting, which tends to assess levels of
well-being by functioning as a proxy of capabilities. The results show that the availability of
basic services, especially those used frequently, are essential elements for maintaining
adequate levels of quality of life in rural areas.
Starting from a capabilities approach, the aim of this work is to evaluate, with a
simultaneous quantile regression, the heterogeneity of the determinants of quality of life by
analyzing the opportunities addressed to rural populations. These opportunities are
quantified as the availability of healthcare, education, economic opportunities, environmental
conditions, human pressure, and the accessibility of the areas. The focus on
capabilities represents a change from the prevailing setting, which tends to assess levels of
well-being by functioning as a proxy of capabilities. The results show that the availability of
basic services, especially those used frequently, are essential elements for maintaining
adequate levels of quality of life in rural areas.