Health Information and the Choice of Fish Species: An Experiment Measuring the Impact of Risk and Benefit Information, April 2006

An experiment was conducted in France to evaluate the impact of health information on consumers’ choice between two different types of fish. Successive messages revealing risks (methylmercury) and benefits (omega-3s) of consuming the fish, along with consumption recommendations, were delivered. Results show a significant difference of reaction according to the order and type of information. The information about risks had a larger marginal impact on change in willingness to pay (WTP) than did the information about benefits. While the results show that detailed messages on risks/benefits, including recommendations for nutrition behavior, matter in the modification of WTP, 40% of respondents did not change their initial choices after the revelation of health information.

EPI Update, April 21, 2006

Weekly newsletter for Center For Acute Disease Epidemiology of Iowa Department of Public Health.

ABD e-News April 28, 2006

Weekly Newsletter

ABD e-News Special - April 28, 2006

Weekly Newsletter

Motor Vehicle Accident Fatalities for the Week Ending, May 5, 2006

Record of the Fatalities for Motor Vehicle Accidents in Iowa per week.

Motor Vehicle Accident Fatalities for the Week Ending, April 28, 2006

Record of the Fatalities for Motor Vehicle Accidents in Iowa per week.

EPI Update, May 5, 2006

Weekly newsletter for Center For Acute Disease Epidemiology of Iowa Department of Public Health.

EPI Update, May 12, 2006

Weekly newsletter for Center For Acute Disease Epidemiology of Iowa Department of Public Health.

Motor Vehicle Accident Fatalities for the Week Ending, May 12, 2006

Record of the Fatalities for Motor Vehicle Accidents in Iowa per week.

ABD e-News May 12, 2006

Weekly Newsletter

Motor Vehicle Accident Fatalities for the Week Ending, May 19, 2006

Record of the Fatalities for Motor Vehicle Accidents in Iowa per week.

EPI Update, May 26, 2006

Weekly newsletter for Center For Acute Disease Epidemiology of Iowa Department of Public Health.

Quality and Competition: An Empirical Analysis across Industries, March 2006

This paper empirically explores the link between quality and concentration in a cross-section of manufactured goods. Using concentration data and product quality indicators, an ordered probit estimation explores the impact of concentration on quality that is defined as an index of quality characteristics. The results demonstrate that market concentration and quality are positively correlated across different industries. When industry concentration increases, the likelihood of the product being higher quality increases and the likelihood of observing a lower quality decreases.

Consumers’ Demand for Pork Quality: Applying Semantic Network Analysis, May 2006

Abstract Consideration of consumers’ demand for food quality entails several aspects. Quality itself is a complex and dynamic concept, and constantly evolving technical progress may cause changes in consumers’ judgment of quality. To improve our understanding of the factors influencing the demand for quality, food quality must be defined and measured from the consumer’s perspective (Cardello, 1995). The present analysis addresses the issue of food quality, focusing on pork—the food that respondents were concerned about. To gain insight into consumers’ demand, we analyzed their perception and evaluation and focused on their cognitive structures concerning pork quality. In order to more fully account for consumers’ concerns about the origin of pork, in 2004 we conducted a consumer survey of private households. The qualitative approach of concept mapping was used to uncover the cognitive structures. Network analysis was applied to interpret the results. In order to make recommendations to enterprises, we needed to know what kind of demand emerges from the given food quality schema. By establishing the importance and relative positions of the attributes, we find that the country of origin and butcher may be the two factors that have the biggest influence on consumers’ decisions about the purchase of pork.

Evaluation of Transverse Joint Forming Methods for PCC Pavement, January 2006

The members of the Iowa Concrete Paving Association, the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center Research Committee, and the Iowa Highway Research Board commissioned a study to examine alternative ways of developing transverse joints in portland cement concrete pavements. The present study investigated six separate variations of vertical metal strips placed above and below the dowels in conventional baskets. In addition, the study investigated existing patented assemblies and a new assembly developed in Spain and used in Australia. The metal assemblies were placed in a new pavement and allowed to stay in place for 30 days before the Iowa Department of Transportation staff terminated the test by directing the contractor to saw and seal the joints. This report describes the design, construction, testing, and conclusions of the project.