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Assessing the costs of living with wildlife in developing countries using willingness to pay

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2008

WILLIAM R. SUTTON ,
DOUGLAS M. LARSON  and
LOVELL S. JARVIS
WILLIAM R. SUTTON
Affiliation:
Senior Agricultural and Resource Economist, Europe and Central Asia Region, The World Bank, MSN: H5-503, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA. Tel: 1 202 473 1102. Fax: 1 202 614 0174. Email: wsutton@worldbank.org
DOUGLAS M. LARSON
Affiliation:
Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Davis, USA and member of the Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics
LOVELL S. JARVIS
Affiliation:
Professor, Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, University of California, Davis, USA and member of the Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics
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Abstract

The costs of living with wildlife are assessed using Namibian subsistence farmers' willingness to pay (WTP) for deterrents to attacks on crops and livestock. A utility-theoretic approach jointly estimates household WTP for deterrent programs in two ‘currencies’: maize and cash. This has a double payoff. Use of a non-cash staple increases respondent comprehension and provides more information about preferences, improving the accuracy of results. The household shadow value of maize is also identified. Significant costs from living with elephants and other types of wildlife are demonstrated. Compensation for farmers may be warranted on equity and efficiency grounds. Uncontrolled domestic cattle generate even higher costs to farmers than wildlife, highlighting the need to clarify property rights among these farmers.

Type
Research Article
Information
Environment and Development Economics , Volume 13 , Issue 4 , August 2008 , pp. 475 - 495
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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