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Problem definition: We investigate the effects of waiting time, mainly due to production in a make-to-batch-order (MTBO) system, on consumer choice behavior, pricing, assortment, and model estimation. In an MTBO system, the seller/manufacturer first collects orders placed within a certain period of time into a batch and then starts the production process. After the production of all orders in a batch are complete, the products are then shipped and delivered to individual consumers. Because of batch production and shipping, the disutility of the waiting time exhibits negative externality. Methodology/results: We adopt the widely used multinomial logit (MNL) model as a starting point and incorporate the anticipated wait into consumers' decision making. The derived model, referred to as the MNL with wait model, is a solution of the rational expectation equilibrium and is capable of capturing the effects of negative externality induced by anticipated wait that may change the substitution patterns dramatically. We characterize the multiproduct price optimization problem under the MNL with wait model by establishing a one-to-one mapping between the price vector and the choice probability vector. We find that firms tend to charge higher prices for time-consuming items and charge lower prices for time-saving items compared with the optimal prices under the standard MNL model. In addition to price competition, we also study the Cournot-type competition, in which the decision is the choice probability for each firm and establish the existence of a Nash equilibrium. For assortment optimization, we identify mild conditions under which the optimality of revenue-ordered assortments still holds. However, the assortment problem under the MNL with wait model is generally NP-hard, so we develop approximation algorithms with performance guarantees and provide an easy-to-compute tight upper bound. Moreover, we develop an efficient maximum likelihood-based algorithm for model calibration and further conduct numerical studies to showcase the importance of incorporating disutility due to wait in estimation, pricing, and assortment planning problems. Managerial implications: The MNL with wait model can increase prediction accuracy for consumers' choice behavior especially when they are aware of the potential wait. Failure to take into account the effects of anticipated wait in firms' decision making may lead to substantial losses. Funding: The research of C. Ke is supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 72101113]. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2020.0346. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a sustainable mode of travel, carpooling is an effective solution to environmental and energy problems, but it has not been fully utilized. The research on carpooling attitudes, especially for college students, still needs to be improved. In response to this problem, this paper aims to investigate the effect of personal attributes, travel attributes, attitude attributes and other attributes of students on carpooling attitudes in China. To collect the data, an online questionnaire survey was implemented at Shenzhen University, and 514 students participated. Based on the samples, the multinomial logit model is used to explore the contribution of all variables. The model results showed that personal attributes such as sex and age had no significant effect on the attitude of college students towards carpooling. The safety of carpooling and its high cost make college students have a neutral attitude towards it. The most concerning factor for college students in carpooling is comfort. These findings can provide valuable suggestions for measures to be taken in response to different attributes affecting students' attitudes and are particularly important for the university and government to make optimal decisions to motivate students to select carpooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite China's sizeable Muslim population, the demand for halal personal care products by its Muslim population has not been examined and empirical research on Muslim needs in general is rather limited. Filling this gap, this study investigates Chinese Muslims' choices of halal personal care products using the choice modelling method. Experimental data from 435 interviews in five cities in western China were collected. Interviewees were selected randomly, and therefore independent of each other, at mosques, urban squares and gardens, Quran classes, and Muslim shopping areas. We find that the availability of halal products in China is quite limited and consumers who are more faithful to their beliefs and who have experience in purchasing halal personal care products are willing to pay more for halal personal care products. Overall, Chinese Muslims prefer low price to high price products, and favour imported products rather than locally made produce. This study adds to the understanding of Chinese Muslim's halal consumption, an area that has attracted increasing attention due to the rapid expansion of its size. The findings of this study provide valuable implications for both Chinese and overseas producers who intend to benefit from China's fast-growing Muslim market and for governments to improve the availability of halal products for the well-being of the ethnic minorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring household access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all the people is one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). China has achieved 100% electricity access, while the traditional solid fuels such as firewood are still widely used in its rural area. This paper, using a long-term and large micro dataset and multinomial logit model, investigates quantitatively the determinants of cooking fuel choice in rural China. The results show that in addition to the previous knowledge on household income, occupation is crucial to the cooking fuel transition. In average, if the head of household changes its occupation from farm to non-farm, the possibility of using firewood would reduce by around 14–21%. The impact of income is slightly small. A 10% increase in income may result in 0.5% of possibility of firewood use. These conclusions are robust after considering the possible energy ladders using ordered logit regressions (OLR) and generalized OLR. After controlling other factors such as income and occupation, we have not found concrete evidence on the influences of education and gender of the household head and household member numbers. To accelerate the fuel transition, in addition to increase the household income, the government should pay attention to create more non-farm work opportunities for the rural. • We use a large micro dataset covering 2 decades and 9 provinces in rural China. • We use a multinomial logit model to capture the choice on disorder fuels. • In addition to the income, occupation is crucial to the cooking fuel choice. • No evidence shows the influences of education and gender if other factors controlled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aging farming population has a significant influence on production agriculture, succession planning, successors, and farmland usage. Given recent trends in urban migration and increased opportunities for off-farm work, aging farmers increasingly face problems with farmland succession and usage in China. This study investigates the usage of farmland in the absence of a farm successor. Using multinomial logit regression model and data from rural households, we find that aging farmers without successors tend to have options for farmland usage. Specifically, the presence of a grain subsidy increases the likelihood of keeping the farmland in agriculture—albeit by hiring labor or leasing out farmland and decreases the likelihood of pooling farmland into farming cooperatives as shareholders. Off-farm work decreases the likelihood of using hired labor and leasing out farmland. Rich rural households are less likely to keep farmland idle. Large farm operators are more likely to lease out farmland. Finally, rural people with pension plans are more likely to pool their land in land cooperatives — a less-risky option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has entered a “new normal” stage, where the returns to capital are continuing to decrease and low-skilled labor intensive industries are growing at a much slower speed. Whether the country can enjoy sustainable growth critically depends on the growth of the new economy sector. However, there is little information about the structure and growth trend of this sector. This article constructs for the first time the New Economy Index to provide a framework for measuring the new economy sector in China. The article defines the scope of the sector and uses a big data approach to identify the new economy sector and enterprises belonging to it. The New Economy Index is used to describe the growth pattern of the new economy sector. The findings show that the sector accounts for about 30 percent of the whole economy, and the New Economy Index is negatively correlated to several traditional economic indices, such as the Purchasing Manager Index of the manufacturing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In order to analyse the influencing factors and their effects on private cars travel route choice in a big city, 1382 valid questionnaires were obtained in Huai'an city. Selecting before travel (SBT), dependent selecting on decision pot (DS), and non-dependent selecting on decision pot (NDS) are taken as the alternative modes of route choice for private cars, meanwhile the Multinomial Logit (MNL) model is developed to explore the relationship between three route choice modes and the individual attribute, travel attribute, and road attribute of private cars. Eight influencing factors such as gender, age, driving years experience, travel distance, and congestion level belonging to three attributes are chosen, and their effects on private cars travel route choice are discussed. The results show that female or younger or less driving experienced drivers of private cars prefer mode SBT and DS to NDS, at the same time, if the travel distance or travel time is short, or the scenery along the way is beautiful, drivers also prefer mode SBT to NDS. However, if the traffic is crowded, drivers of private cars prefer NDS mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the determinants of marketing contract choices including written contracts, oral contracts and no contracts, as well as to examine the impact of marketing contracts on net returns from apple production in China. Design/methodology/approach – A two-stage selection correction approach (Bourguignon, Fournier, and Gurgand (BFG)) for the multinomial logit model is employed to estimate the impact of marketing contracts on net returns from apple production. On the basis of the BFG estimation, the authors also use an endogenous switching regression model and a propensity score matching technique to estimate the causal effects of marketing contract choices on net returns from apple production. Findings – The results reveal significant selectivity correction terms in the choices of both written contracts and no contracts and insignificant selectivity correction terms in the choice of oral contract, indicating that accounting for selection bias is a prerequisite for unbiased and consistent estimation. The findings also indicate written contracts increase apple farmers’ net returns, while oral contracts exert the opposite effect. Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine the impact of marketing contract choices on net returns from apple production, accounting for selectivity effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This work is devoted to the analysis of the different labor market participation regimes of Chinese farm households over the reform process in the 1980s and 1990s. Using household data over the period 1986–2002 from the province Zhejiang, we apply a multinomial logit model to empirically examine household, farm, and regional characteristics affecting the probability that farmers participate in one of four alternative labor market regimes. As generally accepted, off-farm participation is the dominant form of farm households’ labor market participation. But rural households show additionally a significant impact on rural employment mainly linked with non-agricultural household business. Results suggest that labor market decisions are significantly related to several family, farm, and village characteristics. In particular, we find education to be a key determinant of participation. Furthermore, results point to a higher probability of female household members to take up off-farm work. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]