Aggregate Economic Effects of Alternative Boll Weevil Management Strategies

This article presents an aggregate benefit-cost analysis of alternative areawide boll weevil eradication and management strategies Economic efficiency effects of the programs were measured m terms of consumer benefits, farm income, and public program costs, TECHSIM-an econometric Simulation model of production and consumption of major U S agricultural crops-was' used to estimate market Impacts of the programs Boll weevil eradication, combined,with pest management, was found to have the highest net Social benefits However, this program also had the highest public (taxpayer) costs An optimum pest management alternative Without eradication had the highest benefit-cost ratio, but had next to lowest net Social benefits Choice of .the best boll weevil program depends on budget priorities and the target group for program Implementation