Farming and the Countryside : An Economic Analysis of External Costs and Benefits

There is currently great concern throughout the world about the environmental problems associated with modern agricultural practices, particularly soil erosion, the side effects of pollution through excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers, and conservation of wildlife habitats, amenity landscapes and public recreational areas. Until recently however there has been little analysis of these unpriced side-effects, or (in economists' terms) externalities and the related concept of public goods. This book brings together economic analyses of these external costs and benefits of agriculture and land use. It is written by authors from the UK, USA and continental Europe and should be of interest to agricultural and environmental economists and scientists.