Evaluating the social benefit of providing marketing information of livestock products

In Korea, the industry and marketing of livestock has grown because of increases in consumers' income and changes in food consumption trends. Livestock production and consumption increased tenfold from 1970 to 2018, and this rise will continue. However, the quality of marketing information for Korean livestock has remained low. The Korea Institute for Animal Products Quality Evaluation (KAPE) operates programs that provide marketing information on livestock, but the social benefits of these programs have not been objectively evaluated. The purpose of this study was to estimate the social benefit of the programs offering marketing information on Korean livestock. Survey and analysis using an economic model (double-bounded dichotomous choice contingent valuation model), revealed a few findings. First, the users of the marketing information programs offered by KAPE recognized the value of these programs and demonstrated their willingness to pay for this marketing information. Second, the social values of the programs offering marketing information on livestock were estimated as 1.1 billion won (marketing information on main livestock) or 5.3 billion won (price information on poultry), and these social values were 2 or 6 times greater than the cost to operate the programs for offering information. Finally, the program that provides marketing information on domestic livestock provides sufficient social benefits, so KAPE should expand these programs.