A New Approach for Assessing the Costs of Living with Wildlife in Developing Countries

UC Davis Agricultural and Resource Economics Working Paper No. 04-001

37 Pages Posted: 7 Apr 2004

See all articles by William R. Sutton

William R. Sutton

World Bank - Europe and Central Asia Region

Douglas M. Larson

University of California, Davis - Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

Lovell S. Jarvis

University of California, Davis - Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

Date Written: March 2004

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 as a measure of damage costs. 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 noncash 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.

Keywords: Wildlife-human conflict, Elephants, Non-market valuation, Damage cost, Shadow value

JEL Classification: O13, Q2, Q12, C35, C81, D13

Suggested Citation

Sutton, William R. and Larson, Douglas M. and Jarvis, Lovell S., A New Approach for Assessing the Costs of Living with Wildlife in Developing Countries (March 2004). UC Davis Agricultural and Resource Economics Working Paper No. 04-001, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=525582 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.525582

William R. Sutton (Contact Author)

World Bank - Europe and Central Asia Region ( email )

1818 H Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20433
United States

Douglas M. Larson

University of California, Davis - Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics ( email )

One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616
United States

Lovell S. Jarvis

University of California, Davis - Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics ( email )

One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616
United States

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