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Water affordability issues in developed countries – The relevance of micro approaches

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  • Martins, Rita
  • Quintal, Carlota
  • Cruz, Luís
  • Barata, Eduardo

Abstract

In developed countries, water affordability issues are regarded as a non-significant problem. This paper analyses the prevalence of affordability problems at household level and the determinants that might affect their occurrence. From a questionnaire-based survey, Portuguese household level data are used to show that average measures can mask affordability issues for substantial proportions of the low income groups. Findings also indicate that to tackle affordability problems more successfully, special tariff schemes should consider household income, size (large families) and composition (children in poorer households).

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  • Martins, Rita & Quintal, Carlota & Cruz, Luís & Barata, Eduardo, 2016. "Water affordability issues in developed countries – The relevance of micro approaches," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(PA), pages 117-123.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:juipol:v:43:y:2016:i:pa:p:117-123
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2016.04.012
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    Cited by:

    1. Barraqué, Bernard, 2020. "Full cost recovery of water services and the 3 T's of OECD," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    2. Martins, Rita & Quintal, Carlota & Antunes, Micaela, 2019. "Making ends meet: Actual versus potential joint affordability of utility services," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 120-126.
    3. Martins, Rita & Quintal, Carlota & Teotónio, Carla & Antunes, Micaela, 2023. "Water affordability across and within European countries: a microdata analysis," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    4. López-Ruiz, Samara & Tortajada, Cecilia & González-Gómez, Francisco, 2020. "Is the human right to water sufficiently protected in Spain? Affordability and governance concerns," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    5. Martins, Rita & Antunes, Micaela & Fortunato, Adelino, 2020. "Regulatory changes to Portugal's social tariffs: Carrying water in a sieve?," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    6. Pierce, Gregory & Chow, Nicholas & DeShazo, J.R., 2020. "The case for state-level drinking water affordability programs: Conceptual and empirical evidence from California," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    7. Valero, Diana & Cook, Jess & Lee, Angus & Browne, Alison L. & Ellis, Rowan & Pancholi, Vidya Sagar & Hoolohan, Claire, 2023. "Addressing water poverty under climate crisis: implications for social policy," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 120704, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    8. Curran, Franziska & Smart, Simon & Lacey, Justine & Greig, Chris & Lant, Paul, 2018. "Learning from experience in the water sector to improve access to energy services," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 41-50.
    9. Zhang, Xue & Rivas, Marcela Gonzalez & Grant, Mary & Warner, Mildred E., 2021. "Water Pricing and Affordability in the US: Public vs Private Ownership," SocArXiv 7mc4r, Center for Open Science.
    10. Martinez-Espiñeira, Roberto & Pérez Urdiales, María, 2024. "Water Affordability Measures Under Multiple and Non-Exclusive Sources in Latin America and the Caribbean," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 13395, Inter-American Development Bank.
    11. Marta Suárez-Varela & Roberto Martínez-Espiñeira, 2018. "A proposal for the analysis of price escalation within water tariffs: The impact of the Water Framework Directive in Spain," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 36(4), pages 726-749, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Water affordability; Economic regulation; Micro data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L95 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Gas Utilities; Pipelines; Water Utilities
    • Q25 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Water
    • R20 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - General

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