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Decomposing US Water Withdrawal since 1950

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  • Peter Debaere
  • Amanda Kurzendoerfer

Abstract

US water withdrawal has been remarkable since 1950, not mimicking the uninterrupted US population increase, steady real GDP growth, and rising per capita GDP. After doubling between 1950 and 1980, water withdrawals have stabilized and even decreased. Our decomposition reveals that 35%-50% of the productivity gains that let the United States produce each dollar of its GDP with less water stem from long-term structural changes between sectors (growing service economy). The remaining 50%-65% come from productivity improvements within those sectors due to improved production techniques, productivity improvements in electricity generation, and shifts toward less water-intensive products. Importing more water-intensive goods is not the main reason why US water use plateaued.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Debaere & Amanda Kurzendoerfer, 2017. "Decomposing US Water Withdrawal since 1950," Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, University of Chicago Press, vol. 4(1), pages 155-196.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jaerec:doi:10.1086/689833
    DOI: 10.1086/689833
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    Cited by:

    1. Debaere, Peter & Li, Tianshu, 2017. "The Effects of Water Markets: Evidence from the Rio Grande," 2017 Annual Meeting, July 30-August 1, Chicago, Illinois 259187, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    2. Md. Galib Ishraq Emran & Rhidi Barma & Akram Hussain Khan & Mrinmoy Roy, 2024. "Reasons behind the Water Crisis and its Potential Health Outcomes," Papers 2403.07019, arXiv.org.
    3. Rehkamp, Sarah & Canning, Patrick, 2018. "Measuring Embodied Blue Water in American Diets: An EIO Supply Chain Approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 179-188.
    4. Rehkamp, Sarah & Canning, Patrick & Birney, Catherine, 2021. "Tracking the U.S. Domestic Food Supply Chain’s Freshwater Use Over Time," Economic Research Report 327191, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.

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