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Pest Externalities from Agricultural Inputs
Author(s) -
Harper Carolyn R.,
Zilberman David
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
american journal of agricultural economics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.949
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1467-8276
pISSN - 0002-9092
DOI - 10.2307/1242025
Subject(s) - externality , pest analysis , profitability index , agriculture , integrated pest management , economics , pesticide , unintended consequences , natural resource economics , pest control , agricultural engineering , agricultural economics , microeconomics , business , ecology , biology , engineering , finance , marketing , political science , law
Abstract Agricultural inputs such as water, pesticide, and even time may have the unintended effect of stimulating some pest populations, leading to crop losses. A conceptual model is developed to contrast optimal use of pesticide and nonpesticide inputs with myopic use patterns which ignore pest externalities. Under most conditions, optimal management is found to entail reduced input levels. These issues are illustrated for Imperial Valley cotton using biological simulation. Correct calculation of the relative profitability of conventional and integrated pest management techniques, such as a shortened growing season, are found to depend crucially on whether pest externalities are taken into account.