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Water Scarcity and Virtual Water Trade in the Mediterranean

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  • Roberto Roson
  • Martina Sartori

Abstract

Virtual water trade refers to the implicit content of water in the production of goods and services. When trade is undertaken, there is an implicit exchange of water. Furthermore, when water gets scarce, water intensive goods become more expensive to produce and the economy compensates through higher water imports. This paper is about applying the concept of virtual water trade to the problem of future water scarcity in the Mediterranean area, also induced by the climate change. The aim is assessing to what extent water trade is a viable adaptation option to the problem of water scarcity.A computable general equilibrium model is extended with satellite data on sectoral water consumption, and used to assess future scenarios of water availability.It is found that virtual trade may curb the negative effect of water scarcity, yet the consequences in terms of income and welfare remain quite significant, especially for some regions. This suggests that specific water policies (water supply and demand management) will be needed.

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  • Roberto Roson & Martina Sartori, 2011. "Water Scarcity and Virtual Water Trade in the Mediterranean," EcoMod2011 2827, EcoMod.
    • Handle: RePEc:ekd:002625:2827
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    Cited by:

    1. Roberto Ponce & Francesco Bosello & Carlo Giupponi, 2012. "Integrating Water Resources into Computable General Equilibrium Models - A Survey," Working Papers 2012.57, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    2. Marta Antonelli & Martina Sartori, 2014. "Unfolding the Potential of the Virtual Water Concept. What is still under debate?," IEFE Working Papers 74, IEFE, Center for Research on Energy and Environmental Economics and Policy, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy.
    3. Xia, Wenjun & Chen, Xiaohong & Song, Chao & Pérez-Carrera, Alejo, 2022. "Driving factors of virtual water in international grain trade: A study for belt and road countries," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    4. Alexandros Gkatsikos & Konstadinos Mattas, 2021. "The Paradox of the Virtual Water Trade Balance in the Mediterranean Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-14, March.
    5. Paolo Prosperi & Thomas Allen & Martine Padilla & Iuri Peri & Bruce Cogill, 2014. "Sustainability and Food & Nutrition Security," SAGE Open, , vol. 4(2), pages 21582440145, June.
    6. Paolo Prosperi & Thomas Allen & M. Padilla & Luri Peri & Bruce Cogill, 2014. "Sustainability and food & nutrition security: a vulnerability assessment framework for the Mediterranean region," Post-Print hal-01189996, HAL.
    7. R. R. Weerasooriya & L. P. K. Liyanage & R. H. K. Rathnappriya & W. B. M. A. C. Bandara & T. A. N. T. Perera & M. H. J. P. Gunarathna & G. Y. Jayasinghe, 2021. "Industrial water conservation by water footprint and sustainable development goals: a review," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(9), pages 12661-12709, September.
    8. Michael Gilmont, 2015. "Water resource decoupling in the MENA through food trade as a mechanism for circumventing national water scarcity," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 7(6), pages 1113-1131, December.
    9. Oliva, Roberto D. Ponce & Moscoso, Ramiro F. Parrado, 2012. "Economy-wide Impacts of Climate Change on Water Resources in Africa: A CGE Approach," Conference papers 332235, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    10. Roberto Roson & Martina Sartori, 2012. "Climate Change, Tourism and Water Resources in the Mediterranean: A General Equilibrium Analysis," IEFE Working Papers 51, IEFE, Center for Research on Energy and Environmental Economics and Policy, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy.
    11. dos Santos Fachinelli Ferrarini, Angel & Bento de Souza Ferreira Filho, Joaquim & Vianna Cuadra, Santiago & De Castro Victoria, Daniel, 2017. "Water Demand Prospects for the Irrigation in São Francisco River," Conference papers 332886, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    12. Andrea Fracasso & Martina Sartori & Stefano Schiavo, 2014. "Determinants of Virtual Water Flows in the Mediterranean," IEFE Working Papers 75, IEFE, Center for Research on Energy and Environmental Economics and Policy, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy.
    13. Sartori, Martina & Schiavo, Stefano, 2014. "Virtual water trade and country vulnerability: A network perspective," MPRA Paper 59210, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Ankai Xu, 2018. "Trade in Virtual Water: Do Property Rights Matter?," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 32(8), pages 2585-2609, June.
    15. Roson, Roberto & Sartori, Martina, 2012. "Climate Change Impacts on Tourism in the Mediterranean," Conference papers 332219, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    16. Jorge Bielsa & Ignacio Cazcarro, 2014. "Implementing Integrated Water Resources Management in the Ebro River Basin: From Theory to Facts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(1), pages 1-24, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Global; with focus on the Mediterranean.; General equilibrium modeling (CGE); Agricultural issues;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C68 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Computable General Equilibrium Models
    • D58 - Microeconomics - - General Equilibrium and Disequilibrium - - - Computable and Other Applied General Equilibrium Models
    • F18 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Environment
    • Q17 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agriculture in International Trade
    • Q24 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Land
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth

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