Economics can clarify the discussion on invasive species in at least three ways. First is through the use of incentives to change human behavior so as to enhance protection against the introduction, establishment, and spread of invasive species across the world. The second recognizes the public good characteristics of invasive species control, and develops institutions to support the weakest members of our global community (Perrings et al. 2002). The third component involves choosing optimal investment in invasive species management across space, species, and time. This paper is a first attempt at addressing the third component, optimal spatial containment of an invasive species.
