Vol. 13 No. 3 (2024)
Special Issue of 12th AIEAA Conference

Exploring preferences for contractual terms in a scenario of ecological transition for the agri-food sector: a latent class approach

Stefano CIliberti
Department of Agricultural, Food an Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia
Angelo Frascarelli
Department of Agricultural, Food an Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia
Gaetano Martino
Department of Agricultural, Food an Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia
Andrea Marchini
Department of Agricultural, Food an Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia

Published 2024-05-23

Keywords

  • contracts,
  • transition,
  • NIE,
  • latent class analysis,
  • cereals

How to Cite

CIliberti, S., Frascarelli, A., Martino, G., & Marchini, A. (2024). Exploring preferences for contractual terms in a scenario of ecological transition for the agri-food sector: a latent class approach. Bio-Based and Applied Economics, 13(3), 285–299. https://doi.org/10.36253/bae-15374

Abstract

Governance mechanisms along the agri-food supply chains are increasingly important in a scenario of ecological transition. Under the conceptual and analytical lens of the Transaction Cost Economics, we explored farmers’ preferences towards a variety of clauses usually adopted in production contracts. To this purpose, a discrete choice experiment among 190 durum wheat producers in Italy was conducted. Results from a latent class model showed that producers were mainly interested in fixed prices formula and to join shared rules of production but revealed little or no interest for compelling sustainable cultivation techniques and the provision of technical assistance. However, these preferences are heterogeneous across farmers and vary depending on their level of education and previous use of contractual arrangements, with relevant implications for contract design and management.

Governance mechanisms along the agri-food supply chains are increasingly important in a scenario of ecological transition. Under the conceptual and analytical lens of the Neo Institutional Economics, we explored farmers’ preferences towards a variety of clauses usually adopted in production contracts. To this purpose, a discrete choice experiment among 190 durum wheat producers in Italy was conducted. Results from a latent class model showed that that producers were mainly interested in fixed prices formula and to join shared rules of production but revealed little or no interest for compelling sustainable cultivation techniques and the provision of technical assistance. However, these preferences are heterogenous across farmers and vary depending on their level of education and previous use of contractual arrangements, with relevant implications for contract design and management.

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