Assessing management options for weed control with demanders and non-demanders in a choice experiment

Abstract

The yellow floating heart is a water weed causing nuisance problems in Swedish water-courses. An economic analysis where various management options are considered is required. Using a choice experiment, we estimate the benefits of a weed-management program and perform a cost-benefit analysis. In order to be able to distinguish between those who have a demand for a program from those who do not, we introduce a way to distinguish demanders from non-demanders in the choice experiments. Using a simple cost-benefit rule, we find that cutting the weed in certain places in the lake can be justified. © 2008 by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.