Dynamic economic evaluation of pest control strategies
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Two theoretical mathematical models which synthesize dynamic economic and ecological factors involved in pest control are constructed. These models can be used for the temporal evaluation of alternative insect pest control strategies. One model is for the biological control of an insect pest, where control is achieved by raising and releasing parasites of the pest. The second model is for the insecticidal control of a pest, with the model accounting for the potential hidden future costs resulting from physiological resistance potential in the pest population to the insecticide. Due to the unique nature of agroecosystems in general and insect populations in particular, these two models are not directly applicable to all real world control problems. Rather they are illustrations of a whole class of models which can be used for dynamic economic and ecological evaluation of alternative control strategies. Verbal sketches of models incorporating more complex ecological factors and other methods, singly or in combination, are given. Conceptual outlines of two empirically operational measures of the benefits and costs of pest management which can be used in connection with the dynamic models are presented. One of these measures is in terms of private benefits and costs, while the second is in terms of social benefits and costs. The information needs implied by these benefit and cost measures and the illustrative models are also discussed. In addition, some of the institutional factors which can influence the performance of various decision makers and complicate economic evaluation are noted. Finally, the implications of this study for future applied and theoretical research in pest management are discussed.
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