Updated: August 2019

Xuqi (Ricky) Chen

Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Tennessee

302J Morgan Hall | 2621 Morgan Circle, Knoxville, TN 37996

(865) 974-7460 | xchen88@utk.edu | Twitter | Google Scholar

EDUCATION

• Doctor of Philosophy, Food and Resource Economics 2014 - 2019

University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

• Master of Science, Food and Resource Economics 2011 - 2013

Master Minor, Statistics

University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

• Bachelor of Science, Economics & Mathematics 2007 - 2011

Wuhan University, Wuhan, China

FIELD OF INTEREST

Primary: Behavioral Economics, Nutrition and Health, Consumer Behavior, Food Marketing

Secondary: Non-Market Valuation

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Aug. 2019 - Present Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

The University of Tennessee

Aug. 2014 - July 2019 Graduate Research & Teaching Assistant, Food and Resource Economics

Department, University of Florida

RESEARCH

Peer-reviewed Publications

6. Chen, X., Gao, Z., & McFadden, B. R. (2019). “Reveal Preference Reversal in Consumer Preference

for Sustainable Food Products.” Food Quality and Preference, forthcoming.

5. Chen, J., Gao, Z., Chen, X., & Zhang, L. (2019). “Factors Affecting the Dynamics of Community

Supported Agriculture (CSA) Membership.” Sustainability, 11(15), 4170. (Link)

4. Chen, X., Gao, Z., Swisher, M., House, L., & Zhao, X. (2018). “Eco-Labeling in the Fresh Produce

Market: Not All Environmentally Friendly Labels Are Equally Valued.” Ecological Economics, 154,

201-210. (Link)

3. Heng, Y., Gao, Z., Jiang, Y., & Chen, X. (2018). “Exploring Hidden Factors behind Online Food

Shopping from Amazon Reviews: A Topic Mining Approach.” Journal of Retailing and Consumer

Services, 42, 161-168. (Link)

2. Chen, X., Gao, Z., House, L., Ge, J., Zong, C., & Gmitter, F. (2016). “Opportunities for Western Food

Products in China: The Case of Orange Juice Demand.” Agribusiness, 32(3), 343-362. (Link)

1. Shi, L., Gao, Z., & Chen, X. (2014). “The Cross-Price Effect on Willingness-to-Pay Estimates in

Open-Ended Contingent Valuation.” Food Policy, 46, 13-21. (Link)

Page 2 of 5

Submitted Articles

1. Chen, X., Heng, Y., Gao, Z., & Jiang, Y. “Consumer Response to Food Industry Social Media: Own

and Spillover Effect.” (Agricultural Economics. Under Review).

2. Han, Y., Mao, L., Peng, Z. Chen, X., & Zhai, W. “Spatial-social Dynamics of Flood Insurance Buying

Behavior under Climate Change: An Agent-based Modeling for Coastal Urban Areas.” (Risk Analysis.

Under Review).

Working Papers

1. Chen, X., Bi, X. & Gao, Z. “Preference for Adaptations to Sea Level Rise: Empirical Evidence from

Miami.” (In preparation for Journal of Environmental Economics and Management).

2. Chen, X., Gao, Z., & Kassas, B. “The Impact of Impulsive Behavior on Fresh Produce Purchase: Do

the Shopping Companions Matter?”

3. Chen, X., Gao, Z., & House, L. “Consumer Information Searching and Decision-making: Evidence

from Food Labels.”

4. Chen, X., House, L., & Gao, Z. “Impacts of Color-coded Nutrition Facts Panel and Consumer

Responses.”

5. Chen, X., Shen, M., & Gao, Z. “Impacts of Intra-respondent Variations in Attribute Attendance on

Consumer Preference in Food Choice.”

Work in Progress

1. “Market Potential of Transitional Organic.” (with Zhifeng Gao, Lisa House, and Brandon McFadden)

2. “Information Overlapping, Why People Pay More for Organic.” (with Junhong Chen and Zhifeng Gao)

3. “The Impacts of Emotion on Consumers’ Preference for Eco-Labeled Fresh Produce.”

4. “Improving Information Accessibility: New Ways of Nudging for Healthier Eating.”

5. “Familiarity and Information Searching: The Application of Food Labels and Its Impacts on Healthy

Food Decisions.”

GRANT ACTIVITY

• PI, “Identifying Marketing Opportunities under the New Organic Transitional Certification Program.”

($16,492) with Zhifeng Gao, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, 2017-2019.

• PI, “Graduate School Doctoral Dissertation Award.” ($10,592), The Graduate School at the University

of Florida, 2019.

TEACHING

Instructor, University of Florida

• Mathematics Camp for Economists (PhD) 2018

▪ Doctoral summer mathematics course

▪ TEVAL- Overall rating: 4.88/5.00; Amount learned: 4.63/5.00

• AEB 5516, Quantitative Methods in Agribusiness 2017

▪ Master of Agribusiness core course

▪ TEVAL- Overall rating: 5.00/5.00; Amount learned: 5.00/5.00

Page 3 of 5

STUDENT SUPERVISING

Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Tennessee

• Xiaohan (Kelly) Wei, MS, Agricultural Economics, Major Advisor, August 2019-present

OUTREACH

Industry Reports

1. Gao, Z., & Chen, X. “Consumer Preferences for Both Tangible (taste, size, color, etc.) and Intangible

(locally grown, organically produced) Qualities of Strawberries and Consumer Willingness to Pay

(WTP) for These Traits.” Report for Center for Agriculture and Rural Sustainability, University of

Arkansas & Walmart Foundation, Sustainable Strawberry Initiative, August 2014.

2. Gao, Z., & Chen, X. “Chinese Consumer Knowledge, Perception, and WTP for Orange Juice and Juice

Drinks.” Industrial Report for Florida Department of Citrus, October 2012.

Media Coverage

1. Vegetable Growers News. “Strawberry purchasers want sustainable production.” September 13, 2018.

2. Morning Ag Clips. “Buyers weigh in on strawberry production.” September 13, 2018.

3. Fresh Plaza, Growing Florida, VSC News. “University of Florida Study: Buyers Want

Environmentally Safe Strawberry Production.” September 13, 2018.

4. News wise. “UF Study: Buyers Want Environmentally Safe Strawberry Production.” September 2018.

5. Southeast AG Net, Radio Network. “UF Study: Buyers Want Environmentally Safe Strawberry

Production.” September 12, 2018.

6. Growing Florida. “Consumers Find Objective, Comprehensive Grocery Reviews Helpful.” Mar. 2018.

7. WUFT News. “Florida Orange Juice May Have Market in China, UF Study Finds.” April 5, 2016.

8. Growing Florida/Citrus Industry. “U.S. Can Capitalize on Chinese Orange Juice Market Potential.”

March 31, 2016.

9. UF/IFAS Blogs. “U.S. Can Capitalize on Chinese Orange Juice Market Potential.” March 30, 2016.

10. Growing Produce. “Study: China A Golden Opportunity for Florida Orange Juice.” March 30, 2016.

11. AXCESS NEWS. “Capitalizing on the Chinese Orange Juice Market.” April 1, 2016.

SELECTED AWARDS & HONORS

1. Doctoral Dissertation Award, Graduate School, University of Florida 2019

2. Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year 2018, Graduate Student Council (GSC),

University of Florida (one of the two annual awards at the University of Florida) 2018

3. Greenman Memorial Scholarship, College of Agricultural & Life Sciences, UF 2018

4. Phillip L. Herndon Endowment in Economics, University of Florida 2016/2018

5. Ofelia Anzola Scholarship, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF 2017

6. Werner and Margaret C. Husman Scholarship, University of Florida 2017

7. AAEA EXECON Post-Conference Workshop Stipend, Chicago, IL 2017

8. William C. and Bertha M. Cornett Fellowship, University of Florida 2016

9. Allison Family Endowment, Food and Resource Economics Department, UF 2015

10. Behavioral and Experimental Economics Post-Workshop Scholarship 2015

11. IFAS/CALS Graduate Student Travel Grant, University of Florida 2015

12. Grinter Fellowship, University of Florida 2014

13. Nominated for the “Awards of Excellence for Graduate Research”, UF 2013

Page 4 of 5

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS (* denotes presenter)

1. Chen, X.*, Gao, Z., & House, L. “Consumer Information Seeking and Healthy Food Choices:

Interrelationship Between Front-of-package and Back-of-package Labels.” Selected paper,

Agricultural and Applied Economics Association Annual Meetings, Atlanta, GA, July 21-23, 2019.

2. Chen, X., Bi, X.*, & Gao, Z. “Residents’ Willingness to Pay for Sea Level Rise Adaptation in Miami.”

Selected paper, Land, Water, and Environmental Economics (ENV) Section, Agricultural and Applied

Economics Association Annual Meetings, Washington, DC, August 5-7, 2018.

3. Chen, X.*, Gao, Z., & Bi, X. “Public Preferences for Adaptation Strategies to Sea Level Rise: Role of

Perception, Knowledge, and Experience.” Selected presentation, Sixth University of Florida Water

Institute Symposium, Gainesville, FL, February 6-7, 2018.

4. Chen, X.*, Shen, M., & Gao, Z. “Impact of Intrarespondent Variations in Attribute Attendance on

Consumer Preference in Food Choice.” Selected paper, Agricultural and Applied Economics

Association Annual Meetings, Chicago, IL, July 30-August 1, 2017.

5. Chen, X.*, & Gao, Z. “The Impact of Impulsive Behavior on Fresh Produce Purchase: Do the

Shopping Companions Matter?” Selected paper, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association

Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, July 31-August 2, 2016.

6. Chen, X.*, & Gao, Z. “The Effects of Emotion on Consumers’ WTP for Eco-Labeled Fresh Produce.”

Selected paper, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, July

31-August 2, 2016.

7. Chen, X.*, Gao, Z., & House, L. “Own and Cross-effect of Social Media on Demand for Fresh Produce:

A Case of Consumer Preference for California versus Florida Strawberry.” Selected paper, Southern

Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, February 6-9, 2016.

8. Chen, X.*, Gao, Z., & Swisher, M. “Willingness to Pay for Eco-Labeled Fresh Strawberry: Are All

Environmentally Friendly Techniques Equal?” Selected paper, Agricultural and Applied Economics

Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, July 26-28, 2015.

9. Gao, Z.*, Chen, X., Zhao, X., & Swisher, M. “Willingness to Pay for Fresh Strawberry Labeled with

Different Sustainable Practices and Environmental Benefits.” Selected paper, Florida State

Horticultural Society Annual Meeting, St. Augustine, FL, May 31-June 2, 2015.

10. Chen, X.*, Gao, Z., & House, L. “Willingness to Pay for Niche Fresh Produce across the States: Why

Are Consumers Willing to Pay More for the Less Favorite?” Selected paper, Southern Agricultural

Economics Association Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, January 31-February 3, 2015.

11. Chen, X.*, Gao, Z., & House, L. “Opportunities for Western Food Products in China: The Case of

Orange Juice Demand.” Selected paper, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association Annual

Meeting, Washington DC, August 4-6, 2013.

12. Shi, L., Chen, X., & Gao, Z.* “The Cross-Price Effect on Willingness-to-Pay Estimates in Open-

Ended Contingent Valuation.” Selected paper, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association

Annual Meeting, Washington DC, August 4-6, 2013.

13. Chen, X.*, & Gao, Z. “Chinese Consumer Knowledge, Perception, and Willingness to Pay for Orange

Juice Products: Any Opportunities for the US Juice Producers?” Selected paper, Southern Agricultural

Economics Association Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, February 2-6, 2013.

Page 5 of 5

SERVICES & LEADERSHIP

• Moderator, Agricultural & Applied Economics Association Annual Meetings 2019

• Academic Journal Reviewer, PLOS ONE (1) 2019

• Abstract Reviewer, Agricultural & Applied Economics Association Annual Meetings 2019

• Graduate Student Representative in Faculty Search Committee (Agribusiness),

Food and Resource Economics Department, University of Florida 2018-2019

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• Agricultural & Applied Economics Association since 2012

• Southern Agricultural Economics Association since 2013

• American Economic Association since 2017

SKILLS

• Language: English (Proficient), Mandarin (Native)

• Software: SAS, NLOGIT, R, Ngene, JMP, Qualtrics, JavaScript