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Stardust over Paris Gastronomic Restaurants*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 June 2012

Olivier Gergaud
Affiliation:
OMI, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne and CES-TEAM, Université de Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne. Address: 57 bis, rue Pierre Taittinger, 51096 Reims Cedex,France. Tel.: + 33 (0) 3.26.91.38.01, Fax: + 33 (0) 3.26.91.38.69, email: olivier.gergaud@univ-reims.fr.
Linett Montano Guzman
Affiliation:
Université Libre de Bruxelles, email: lmontano@ulb.ac.be
Vincenzo Verardi
Affiliation:
ECARES, Université Libre de Bruxelles, email:vverardi@ulb.ac.be.

Abstract

In this paper, we study if the leading French gastronomic guidebook, the “Guide Rouge Michelin,” only rates the quality of food, as it claims, or if it also considers environmental variables when attributing stars. We then check how Michelin ratings affect the market, and more specifically, the price charged by restaurants. Using some simple econometric techniques, we find that a small improvement in environment boosts the probability of receiving Michelin stars. Since we also find that a Michelin star is associated to a high price premium stuck (independently of the quality of food), we conclude that expertise induces distortions in the market (JEL classification: D4, L15, L66).

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © American Association of Wine Economists 2007

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References

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