Second-Order Ambiguity in Very Low Probability Risks: Food Safety Valuation

By: Kivi, Paul A.; Shogren, Jason F.
Cite

Citation

Kivi, Paul A.; Shogren, Jason F., Second-Order Ambiguity in Very Low Probability Risks: Food Safety Valuation, Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Volume 35, Issue 3, December 2010, Pages 443-456

Food consumption involves inherently risky decisions with uncertain probabilities. This study examines how second-order ambiguity, or uncertainty over probabilities, affects food safety decisions. We conduct a food safety survey wherein subjects face both unambiguous and ambiguous situations, each with the same expected value. Respondents show a preference for unambiguous situations and state a willingness to pay to avoid ambiguity