Abstracts of second- and third-place undergraduate papers.

"An Analysis of the Decline in Hunting Participation in Alberta." Harper, Dana, University of Alberta, second-place winner.

This paper presents an analysis of the demand for hunting licenses in Alberta from 1968 to 2004. Regression analysis was used to estimate the effects of some of the commonly thought reasons for the decline in hunting participation in Alberta; specifically, the effects of changes in wildlife certificate prices, species license prices, income levels, and the proportion of the population living in urban areas. I found that hunting appears to be an inferior good since the income elasticity of demand was elastic--as provincial income levels increase, it is expected that less people will participate in hunting. In addition, the price elasticity of demand was inelastic indicating that raising license prices could theoretically generate increased revenues for wildlife management. I further hypothesize that if hunting participation needs to be increased for wildlife management purposes, it can be accomplished by decreasing the prices of licenses without directly affecting the revenue generated. Ultimately, we must realize that many of the hypothesized reasons for the decline in hunting participation in Alberta are qualitative and non-economic in nature and are thus difficult to include in most analyses. Whereas price and income are important determinants of hunting demand, they are only part of the story.

"Eggsactly What Attitudes Drive Consumer Egg Purchases?" Boyd, Curtis D., University of Alberta, third-place winner.

In an attempt to increase household expenditure on shell eggs, producers have differentiated production to offer consumers a multitude of specialty egg varieties. These varieties lie in one of two general classifications; eggs which are nutritionally enhanced, and those which are produced under alternate production techniques yet are otherwise nutritionally equivalent to their generic counterparts. This study uses two surveys developed in 2005 and 2006 focusing on consumer attitudes, potentially impacting egg preferences. The data were then analyzed with a multinomial logit regression utilizes attitude factor scores and demographic characteristics. This study reveals what consumer attitudes and demographic traits are associated with preferences for vegetarian, free-run, organic, vitamin-enhanced and omega-3-enhanced egg types with two significant conclusions.

It is first shown that consumers have a strong preference for free-run eggs and second that there appears to be confusion surrounding egg attributes. This is revealed by the result that health conscious consumers show a greater willingness to pay (WTP) for free-run, vegetarian or organic eggs, while revealing a negative WTP for nutritionally enhanced varieties (omega-3 and vitamin-enhanced).

Deciphering consumer attitudes towards egg varieties is an important aspect of developing marketing strategies, predicting policy change implications and in understanding consumer views towards industry directions. Proliferation of differentiated products may not increase demand in the targeted segments, it may confuse consumers.