Landscape-level feedbacks in the demand for transgenic pesticidal corn in the Philippines

Zachary Brown (), Lawson Connor, Roderick M. Rejesus and Jose M. Yorobe

Ecological Economics, 2021, vol. 180, issue C

Abstract: We introduce a novel econometric approach to estimate economic pest control feedbacks within agroecological systems, using discrete choice endogenous sorting models. We apply this approach to deployment of transgenic Bt maize in the Philippines. We show with basic theory how areawide pest suppression from largescale Bt maize deployment attenuates farmers' demand for this technology. Econometric results support this hypothesis and imply long-run demand for the Bt trait is price-inelastic, contrasting with price-elastic demand estimated from a model without feedback. Investigating whether this feedback truly derives from areawide pest suppression, we analyze farmers' pest infestation expectations and find expected damages are significantly reduced by higher areawide Bt deployment. We discuss implications of these findings and other potential applications of the econometric approach to study coupled biological and economic systems.

Keywords: Agroecology; Bioeconomic feedbacks; Areawide pest suppression; Crop choice; Discrete choice models; Endogenous sorting (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C33 C35 C36 D24 Q12 Q57 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:180:y:2021:i:c:s0921800919321950

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2020.106883

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