Pricing Irrigation Water : A Literature Survey

Johansson, Robert C.

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT;    AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION;    AGRICULTURAL USES;    AGRICULTURAL WATER;    AGRICULTURAL WATER SUPPLIES;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-2449
RP-ID  :  WPS2449

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

As water scarcity and populationpressures increase, more countries are adopting waterpricing mechanisms, as their primary means of regulating theconsumption of irrigation water. The way to allocate waterefficiently is to "get the prices right", but howto accomplish this is open to debate. Water pricing methodsare sensitive to the social, physical, institutional, andpolitical setting. To assess the costs and benefits of aparticular irrigation project, the pricing method must betailored to local circumstances. The author's survey ofthe resource economics literature on irrigation services andpricing, will be useful for developing comprehensiveguidelines for water policy practitioners. He synthesizesaccumulated knowledge about the implementation, andperformance of various water pricing methods used over thepast two decades: volumetric pricing (marginal costpricing), output and input pricing, per area pricing, tieredpricing, two part tariffs, and water markets. As waterscarcity and population pressures increase, more countriesare adopting water pricing mechanisms as their primary meansof regulating the consumption of irrigation water. The wayto allocate water efficiently is to "get the pricesright", but how to accomplish this is open to debate.Water pricing methods are sensitive to the social, physical,institutional, and political setting. To assess the costsand benefits of a particular irrigation project, the pricingmethod must be tailored to local circumstances. Theauthor's survey of the resource economics literature onirrigation services and pricing, will be useful fordeveloping comprehensive guidelines for water policypractitioners. He synthesizes accumulated knowledge aboutthe implementation, and performance of various water pricingmethods used over the past two decades: volumetric pricing(marginal cost pricing), output and input pricing, per areapricing, tiered pricing, two part tariffs, and water markets.