A Decision Theoretic Approach to Choose Among Alternative Import Protocols for an Import Competing Commodity

Private and Public Economic Incentives for the Control of Animal Diseases: The Case of Anthrax in Livestock

“…Public involvement in disease management often depends on whether the disease is a human health risk, how easily the disease is transmitted, whether the disease is a food safety threat, the impacts the disease has on international trade and cross border movement of animals (Abdalla et al., 2000; Roberts, 2006). Even in the absence of the above, the government need not have any other reason for involvement but only to assure the public and consumers that the animal products they consume are safe (Ma, 2004).…”

“…There is also research in support of the argument that animal disease management is a public issue, which should be managed by the public sector only. The presence of externalities associated with livestock diseases and the public goods nature of benefits generated from prevention and control are the main reasons behind this argument (Bicknell et al., 1999; Abdalla et al., 2000; Jin and McCarl, 2006). Some of the reasons given include the fact that private investors are unable to provide for additional control services, and at the same time get returns to their investment through the market even if the society is willing to pay (Bicknell et al., 1999).…”

“…Finally, some researchers believe that the society always wants the government to step into the management of disease control programs. Thus the higher the consequences of disease beyond production level and the market, the greater the role that government is expected to play in the provision and production of disease control programs (Abdalla et al., 2000).…”

“…Disease outbreaks in animal populations primarily affect the health of animals, which in turn leads to production losses and animal mortality. The economic impacts of animal diseases are felt beyond the direct monetary costs associated with livestock deaths (Abdalla et al., 2000, Barrett, 2001). Animal diseases cause a variety of social and economic impacts on society that are external to the production process.…”

“…Animal diseases cause a variety of social and economic impacts on society that are external to the production process. Some of these include: the danger of the spread of disease across animal species and possibly to the human population; depletion of viable animal species in the environment; loss of consumer trust in associated food products; loss of income source to producers depending on animal husbandry; potential large scale carcass disposal costs; large scale treatment and other control costs; potential failure of local, national and international livestock markets; and influence on other affiliated industries which depend on livestock products and businesses for their smooth running (McDonald and Roberts, 1998, Abdalla et al., 2000).…”