Benefit-Cost (B/C) analysis requires inputs which are inclusive, valid, quantifiable and reliable. Proper attention to the procedures outlined in the six sections of this report will give a broad, although not necessarily complete, review of the effects of a pesticide-use decision. The six major sections are: (1) A taxonomy of pesticide use effects. (2) Economic production -- Improvement in production is the major benefit of pesticide use. Although alternative cost assumptions are commonly used in B/C modeling, the opportunity cost approach is argued to be a superior procedure. (3) Human health -- Statistical methods are identified to measure the health costs of pesticide use. Chronic health effects are the most difficult to analyze but methods are shown for measuring both dollar and utility values. (4) Environmental impact -- Impacted organism/effects matrices are developed to insure comprehensive consideration of environmental impacts even though the state-of-the-art does not permit direct incorporation of these effects into the B/C ratio. (5) Aesthetic impacts -- Organism/effects matrices are developed for aesthetic impact assessment. (6) Distribution effects -- Social class, income class and international trade effects are presented as important considerations exogeneous to the B/C ratio.

"August 1977." "Grant No. R863247-01-1." "Project Officer Darwin R. Wright, Agriculture and Non-Point Source Management Division." "Prepared by Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania." Includes bibliographical references.