Problems of provision, externality and efficiency, and the case of coalition-based invasive weed management in the southwest

Drawing on institutional and economic insights, this dissertation addressed three fundamental problems in the context of invasive weed management---provision, externality, and efficiency. It was hypothesized that characterizing these three problems and linking management directly to them could be one possible way of successfully managing invasive weeds. The existence and emergence of invasive weed coalitions provided a wonderful opportunity to investigate whether successful invasive weed management corresponds to the successful management of the identified problems.;Chapter 2 characterized the invasive weed provision problem. Using a game theory approach, this chapter numerically illustrates and mathematically proves that private provision of weed control at equilibrium may not necessarily equate to the social optimal level of weed control provision. A coalition-based invasive management strategy was suggested as an appropriate mechanism to foster cooperative behavior and joint provision.;Chapter 3 addressed provision and externality problems in existing invasive weed coalitions by using the Institutional Analysis and Development framework. Findings from focus group discussions revealed coalitions were effective at providing weed control strategies and at reducing the infestations across property boundaries.;Chapter 4 dealt with the efficiency problem through the development of the Least-Cost-Plus-Net-Loss model. Using information from a weed coalition known as the Lindrith Project and some model inputs, several economically efficient treatment strategies were identified, which varied from one scenario to the other.;This study provided direct and immediately useful policy inputs that can be used to design coalitions to achieve effective, efficient, and successful long-term invasive weed management and could potentially fill the gap between regulatory authority and enforcement. However, it is important to remember that mere creation of coalition does not guarantee that it can evolve over time nor that it can well take care of invasive problems. Flaws in designing a coalition could be costly and may cause unwanted results.