1 An Atlantic Divide? European and American Attitudes on Genetically Engineered Foods Michael W. Toffel * & James E. Heyman § Working Paper Haas School of Business University of California February 7, 2002 ABSTRACT This study investigates how attitudes are formed that support or oppose genetically modified (GM) foods. Based on surveys in the United States and Europe, we find that the largest influences on GM food encouragement are the extent to which individuals find GM foods to be useful and morally acceptable. Secondary influences include technology optimism and risk attitudes. Several other variables commonly thought to contribute to GM food opinions were not found to be influential, including the extent to which individuals trust government or industry to regulate, political conservatism, and religiosity. We find significant differences across Austria, Finland, Norway, and Spain. Some of their attributes are more similar to those of the United States than to their fellow Europeans. Our study challenges prior research that implies that Europe is an appropriate unit of analysis for investigating GM food attitudes and attitude formation. * Haas School of Business, University of California – Berkeley, 545 Student Services Building #1900, Berkeley, CA 94720-1900, toffel@haas.berkeley.edu tel: 510-985-2781 fax: 510-643-1420 § Haas School of Business, University of California – Berkeley, 545 Student Services Building #1900, Berkeley, CA 94720-1900, jheyman@haas.berkeley.edu tel: 925-787-4808 fax: 510-643-1406