Preferences for pandemic recovery policies: Perspectives of Myanmar agri‐food system participants

Abstract

This study assesses preferences for COVID-19 pandemic recovery policies from four key groups representing the upstream (input retailers), farm (farmers), and downstream (millers and traders) levels of Myanmar's agrifood-system using the best-worst scaling (BWS) method. Our results show that nonrestrictive policies such as maintaining open international borders and allowing businesses to stay open are preferred to cash transfers and free COVID-19 vaccination. However, there is considerable heterogeneity across groups, and group characteristics matter more than individual characteristics in shaping policy preferences. This paper highlights the need for careful consideration of diverse stakeholder perspectives in designing recovery policies.

Divergent beliefs about food safety and affordability in Nigeria

“…Although BWS has been used widely in agriculture and resource management research in Europe and North America ( Atta and Micheels, 2020 ; Jones et al, 2013 ; Scarpa et al, 2011 ; Stone et al, 2018 ), its application thus far in LMICs contexts has been limited (for exceptions, see Mason et al, 2019 ; Maredia et al, 2022 ). Moreover, most agrifood studies that employ BWS have looked either at producers ( Atta and Micheels, 2020 , Ortega et al, 2015 , Wolf and Tonsor, 2013 )or consumers ( Loose and Lockshin, 2013 ; Lusk and Briggeman, 2009 ).…”