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The economics of water scarcity and variability

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  • Richard Damania

Abstract

Does the availability or variability of water matter for the economy? Does it meaningfully impact the growth and development trajectory of a country? It may seem surprising that answers to these most basic of questions remain elusive. The aim of this paper is to summarize recent work on the economic impacts of water scarcity and variability. The paper finds that there is strong evidence that variations in rainfall and water availability have significant impacts on particular sectors, such as agriculture, human capital, and even conflict. But paradoxically evidence of impacts on economic growth and other measures of aggregate economic activity remains ambiguous. The paper explains reasons for this anomaly and explores the pathways through which water impacts the economy. The paper provides a synthesis of key developments in the literature, identifies methodological gaps, and suggests policy solutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Damania, 2020. "The economics of water scarcity and variability," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 36(1), pages 24-44.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:oxford:v:36:y:2020:i:1:p:24-44.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/oxrep/grz027
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Bareille, François & Chakir, Raja & Regnacq, Charles, 2024. "Rainwater shocks and economic growth: The role of the water cycle partition," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    2. Buttinelli, Rebecca & Cortignani, Raffaele & Caracciolo, Francesco, 2024. "Irrigation water economic value and productivity: An econometric estimation for maize grain production in Italy," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
    3. Kotz, Maximilian & Kuik, Friderike & Lis, Eliza & Nickel, Christiane, 2023. "The impact of global warming on inflation: averages, seasonality and extremes," Working Paper Series 2821, European Central Bank.
    4. Cyan, Musharraf R. & Kasim, M. Taha, 2023. "Awareness campaign to improve hygiene practices: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial in the tribal areas of Pakistan," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    5. Ria Ranjan Srivastava & Prabhat Kumar Singh, 2023. "Selection of factors affecting integrated municipal wastewater treatment and reuse network: an interpretive structural modelling (ISM) approach," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(9), pages 9137-9161, September.
    6. Khan,Amjad Muhammad & Rodella,Aude-Sophie, 2021. "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall? : New Insights on Water Security and Fragility in the Sahel," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9805, The World Bank.
    7. Xu, Hang & Yang, Rui, 2022. "Does agricultural water conservation policy necessarily reduce agricultural water extraction? Evidence from China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    8. Ghimire, Tinusha & Harou, Aurélie P. & Balasubramanya, Soumya, 2023. "Migration, gender labor division and food insecurity in Tajikistan," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    9. Marbler, Alexander, 2024. "Water scarcity and local economic activity: Spatial spillovers and the role of irrigation," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).

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