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Abstract: This study reports results from a choice experiment on semi-hard cheese from Norway. About half of the 408 participants were exposed to diet-related health information before performing either a choice or a ranking task, while a control group did not receive such information. The effects of health information on marginal willingness to pay for low-saturated-fat, low-fat and organic cheese are analyzed using rank-ordered mixed logit models. Cheese preferences are clearly affected by exposure to health information. On average, the health information group is willing to pay a price premium of 27.2% (NOK 24.5 per kg) for low-saturated-fat cheese and 14.4% (NOK 13.0 per kg) for low-fat cheese. This is respectively 1.73 and 2.89 times more than corresponding price premiums in the control group. Non-college, medium–high income, age50–70 and female participants are more clearly affected by health information than college, low income, age 30–49 and male participants. Subjective statements on diet-health knowledge and awareness are used to discuss these findings. Our results suggest that provision of health information is likely to reduce educational differences in diet-health knowledge and thus dietary behavior. Low income participants seem to be constrained by high food prices, but not by lack of knowledge or awareness. Finally, due to lack of diet-health awareness, reaching out to young people and particularly males through health information policies seems difficult. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Much tourism research revolves around the measurement of preferences, and choice experiments (CE) are increasingly used to assess visitor preferences for tourism products. In the context of infrastructure development at national parks and other protected areas in rural regions, the preferences of both local residents and non-local citizens and visitors are important. These preferences may diverge due to differing attitudes toward utilization of natural resources, as well as differences in desired tourism experiences and other factors. This study utilized CE and mixed logit modeling to account for unobserved heterogeneity while assessing local versus non-local preferences for development of a gondola adjacent to a national park in rural Norway. Results indicate observable heterogeneity in local and non-local preferences for food and information provision, but commonality in preferences for the gondola in general and for avoiding loss of wild reindeer habitat. They also indicate unobserved heterogeneity in local preferences for gondola development, as well as in preferences for avoiding habitat loss among respondents generally. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Norwegian consumer preferences for country of origin and hormone status of beef were investigated and socio-economic segmentation variables identified. On average, after domestic beef, consumers preferred beef from neighbouring Sweden to beef from more distant countries, and beef from developed countries to beef from less developed countries. US hormone-free beef was perceived as being as good as Irish beef, whereas US hormone-treated beef was perceived as being inferior to Irish and Botswanan beef. In a series of market simulations based on an estimated mixed logit model, it is shown that non-Scandinavian alternatives are close substitutes competing over the import-friendly market segment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]