AN ECONOMIC-PERSPECTIVE ON OUTDOOR RESIDENTIAL PESTICIDE USE

Outdoor residential pesticide use has different economic motivations t han agricultural pesticide use. During the past 20 years, pesticides f or nonstructural pests have been applied on residential landscapes of about 50% of all U.S. households. But the number of people who pay for professional treatments has been growing. Households that use outdoor pesticides are more likely to have yards, bigger or better-quality ya rds, lower pest tolerances, more pestiferous surroundings, or less con cern about risks of pesticidal exposure. Professional pest control bec omes more attractive as the costs of household time, equipment, or exp osure increase or as the benefits of professional time, expertise, equ ipment, or a restricted pesticide increase. In general, households are less likely than farmers to use pesticides, read labels, and take pre cautions. They apply herbicides at higher rates and insecticides at lo wer rates than most farmers. These behavioral differences reflect diff erences in the objectives and degree of market orientation of pest con trol, the scale of operations, and regulation. Our economic perspectiv e, together with scientific information on pest management, can be use ful for creating better pest management policies to reduce adverse env ironmental or public-health impacts.