Securing the Border from Invasives: Robust Inspections Under Severe Uncertainty

University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Resource Economics Working Paper No. 2009-6

24 Pages Posted: 21 Sep 2009

See all articles by L. Joe Moffitt

L. Joe Moffitt

University of Massachusetts at Amherst - College of Natural Resources & the Environment - Department of Resource Economics

John Stranlund

University of Massachusetts at Amherst - College of Natural Resources & the Environment - Department of Resource Economics

Craig Osteen

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS)

Date Written: September 18, 2009

Abstract

Two important features of agricultural quarantine inspections of shipping containers for invasive species at U.S. ports of entry are the general absence of economic considerations and the severe uncertainty that surrounds invasive species introductions. In this article, we propose and illustrate a method for determining an inspection monitoring protocol that addresses both issues. An inspection monitoring protocol is developed that is robust in maximizing the set of uncertain outcomes over which an economic performance criterion is achieved. The framework is applied to derive an alternative to Agricultural Quarantine Inspection (AQI) for shipments of fruits and vegetables as currently practiced at ports of entry in the United States.

Keywords: Inspection, Invasive Species, Uncertainty

JEL Classification: Q18, Q57, D81

Suggested Citation

Moffitt, L. Joe and Stranlund, John and Osteen, Craig, Securing the Border from Invasives: Robust Inspections Under Severe Uncertainty (September 18, 2009). University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Resource Economics Working Paper No. 2009-6, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1475405 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1475405

L. Joe Moffitt (Contact Author)

University of Massachusetts at Amherst - College of Natural Resources & the Environment - Department of Resource Economics ( email )

Stockbridge Hall
80 Campus Center Way
Amherst, MA 01003-9246
United States
413 545 5719 (Phone)

John Stranlund

University of Massachusetts at Amherst - College of Natural Resources & the Environment - Department of Resource Economics ( email )

Stockbridge Hall
80 Campus Center Way
Amherst, MA 01003-9246
United States
413-545-6328 (Phone)

Craig Osteen

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS) ( email )

355 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024-3221
United States

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