The impact of information on consumer behavior is a classic topic in economics, and there has recently been particular interest in whether providing nutritional information leads consumers to choose healthier diets. For example, a nationwide requirement of calorie counts on the menus of chain restaurants took effect in the U.S. in May, 2018, and the results of such information disclosure are not well known. To estimate the impact of menu labeling, we conducted a randomized controlled field experiment in two full-service restaurants, in which the control group received the usual menus and the treatment group received the same menus but with calorie counts. We estimate that the labels resulted in a 3.0% reduction in calories ordered, with the reduction occurring in appetizers and entrees but not drinks or desserts. Exposure to the information also increases consumers’ support for requiring calorie labels by 9.6%. These results are informative about the impact of the new nationwide menu label requirement, and more generally contribute to the literature on the impact of information disclosure on consumer behavior.

中文翻译：

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信息披露对消费者行为的影响：来自餐厅菜单卡路里标签随机现场实验的证据

信息对消费者行为的影响是经济学中的一个经典话题，最近人们对提供营养信息是否会引导消费者选择更健康的饮食特别感兴趣。例如，2018 年 5 月在美国实施了连锁餐厅菜单卡路里计数的全国性要求，此类信息披露的结果并不为人所知。为了估计菜单标签的影响，我们在两家提供全方位服务的餐厅进行了一项随机对照现场实验，其中对照组接受通常的菜单，而治疗组接受相同的菜单，但有卡路里计数。我们估计标签导致订购的卡路里减少了 3.0%，减少发生在开胃菜和主菜，但不是饮料或甜点。接触这些信息也使消费者对要求卡路里标签的支持增加了 9.6%。这些结果提供了关于新的全国菜单标签要求的影响的信息，并且更普遍地有助于关于信息披露对消费者行为的影响的文献。