Labeling policies in food markets: Private incentives, public intervention, and welfare effects

This study considers the welfare impact of labeling policies of agricultural commod-ities with speci6c characteristics. Using a model of vertical differentiation, the effects on equilibrium and welfare levels are calculated. The introduction of the regulation and the emergence of two differentiated competitive markets leaves consumers and high-quality producers better off, while low-quality producers are worse off. With high costs and low quality differences, the total welfare impact of the regulation can be negative. Findings show that when high-quality producers can exercise market power, the regulation could be more easily accepted by producers, but it would have a negative effect on consumers. Key words: asymmetric information, food markets, labeling, market power, vertical differentiation, welfare effect