Using contests to promote coordinated control of invasive species: An experimental evaluation

Stefan Meyer (), Paulo Santos () and Chitpasong Kousonsavath ()
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Stefan Meyer: Monash University
Paulo Santos: Monash University
Chitpasong Kousonsavath: National University of Laos

No 2021-16, Monash Economics Working Papers from Monash University, Department of Economics

Abstract: We experimentally evaluate the effect of competing for a prize on the coordinated control of invasive species in the presence of externalities. We offered prizes (merit, monetary and a combination of both) to the best performer in a contest aimed at promoting the control of rodent pests, an invasive species that is responsible for large losses in stored grain. Only monetary prizes are capable of promoting behavioral change, with relatively large effects: households in villages where prizes were offered reported losses in storage that are 25% lower than in control villages. The effect is a non-linear function of prize, with only intermediate size prizes leading to reductions in storage losses. Spillovers matter greatly, with non-participants in the contest benefiting almost as much as participants, highlighting the importance of externalities. Avoided losses are large enough to drive a reduction in rice prices in seasonally isolated markets.

Keywords: contests; invasive species; spillovers; food security (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q12 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr, nep-env, nep-exp and nep-sea
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