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The Influence of Food Recommendations: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Kamal Bookwala

    (University of California Irvine, Department of Economics)

  • Caleb Gallemore

    (Lafayette College, Department of International Affairs)

  • Joaquin Gomez-Minambres

    (Lafayette College, Department of Economics and Chapman University, Economic Science Institute.)

Abstract
We report results from a randomized field experiment conducted at two food festivals. Our primary aim is to assess the impact of two types of recommendations commonly observed in food settings: most popular and chef’s choice. Subjects select a cupcake from a binary menu. The two options, offered by the same bakery, are the best seller in the bakery and the baker's recommended cupcake. Our treatments manipulate whether the recommendation is disclosed in tandem with the cupcakes in the menu. We find that the most popular is the only recommendation that statistically significantly increased consumers’ demand relative to a baseline without recommendations. Furthermore, we find that this effect only holds for subjects from outside the local region. Our results are consistent with laboratory studies indicating information on peers' choices is a powerful influence on consumers' decisions, especially in the absence of prior knowledge.

Suggested Citation

  • Kamal Bookwala & Caleb Gallemore & Joaquin Gomez-Minambres, 2021. "The Influence of Food Recommendations: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment," Working Papers 21-06, Chapman University, Economic Science Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:chu:wpaper:21-06
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    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/esi_working_papers/343/
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Recommendations; Social learning; Herd behavior; Peer effects;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness

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