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The Economic Benefits of the Biological Control of Rabbits in A ustralia, 1950–2011
Author(s) -
Cooke Brian,
Chudleigh Peter,
Simpson Sarah,
Saunders Glen
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
australian economic history review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.493
H-Index - 16
eISSN - 1467-8446
pISSN - 0004-8992
DOI - 10.1111/aehr.12000
Subject(s) - myxoma virus , agriculture , biological pest control , investment (military) , disease control , biology , natural resource economics , microbiology and biotechnology , business , agricultural science , virus , economics , ecology , virology , political science , politics , law
Wild E uropean rabbits are serious agricultural and environmental pests in A ustralia; myxoma virus and rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus have been used as biocontrol agents to reduce impacts. We review the literature on changes in rabbit numbers together with associated reports on the economic benefits from controlling rabbits on agricultural production. By using loss–expenditure frontier models in with and without biocontrol scenarios, it is conservatively estimated that biological control of rabbits produced a benefit of A $70 billion (2011 A $ terms) for agricultural industries over the last 60 years. The consequences for ongoing rabbit control and research investment are discussed.