How Do Nutritional Warning Labels Affect Prices?

Journal of Marketing Research, forthcoming

Posted: 30 Jul 2020 Last revised: 13 Dec 2022

See all articles by Max J. Pachali

Max J. Pachali

Tilburg University - Tilburg University School of Economics and Management

Marco J.W. Kotschedoff

KU Leuven

Arjen van Lin

Tilburg University

Bart J. Bronnenberg

Tilburg University, CentER

Erica van Herpen

Wageningen University

Date Written: May 17, 2022

Abstract

Obesity is increasing worldwide and in many countries, the problem is particularly serious among lower income groups. To fight obesity, front-of-pack nutritional warning labels are a prominent regulatory tool that have been implemented or are currently debated in many countries. Existing studies document that warning labels incentivize consumers to substitute away from unhealthy products. However, not much is known about equilibrium price changes in response to consumers’ utility for warning labels. Using household purchase data in the cereal category, this paper studies the adjustments of prices after the mandatory introduction of warning labels in Chile. The authors develop a model which shows that warning labels lead to higher prices of labeled cereals, as is also observed in data. In contrast, prices of unlabeled products tend to drop or at least increase less, incentivizing price sensitive consumers to remain in the category. The authors decompose post-labeling market share adjustments into a pure label effect that fixes prices at initial levels after regulation and a total effect that accounts for price re-optimizations. Their findings point to self-enforcing effects of a warning label regulation as the price adjustments amplify the policy-maker’s goal of reducing unhealthy nutritional intake, especially because market forces incentivize low-income segments to choose healthier alternatives.

Keywords: warning labels, equilibrium price adjustments, market segmentation, product differentiation

Suggested Citation

Pachali, Max J. and Kotschedoff, Marco J.W. and van Lin, Arjen and Bronnenberg, Bart J. and van Herpen, Erica, How Do Nutritional Warning Labels Affect Prices? (May 17, 2022). Journal of Marketing Research, forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3642756 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3642756

Max J. Pachali (Contact Author)

Tilburg University - Tilburg University School of Economics and Management ( email )

P.O. Box 90153
Tilburg, 5000 LE
Netherlands

HOME PAGE: http://sites.google.com/site/mjpachali/

Marco J.W. Kotschedoff

KU Leuven ( email )

Naamsestraat 69
Leuven, B-3000
Belgium

Arjen Van Lin

Tilburg University ( email )

P.O. Box 90153
Tilburg, 5000 LE
Netherlands

Bart J. Bronnenberg

Tilburg University, CentER ( email )

Warandelaan 2
Tilburg, 5037 AB
Netherlands
+31 13 466 8939 (Phone)
+31 13 466 8354 (Fax)

Erica Van Herpen

Wageningen University ( email )

Hollandseweg 1
Wageningen, 6706KN
Netherlands

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