Simple Myths and Basic Maths About Greening Irrigation

16 Pages Posted: 18 Feb 2015

See all articles by Carlos Gomez

Carlos Gomez

Universidad de Alcalá

Carlos Pérez-Blanco

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM), Venice

Date Written: February 16, 2015

Abstract

Greening the economy is mostly about improving water governance and not only about putting the existing resource saving technical alternatives into practice. Focusing on the second and forgetting the first risks finishing with a highly efficient use of water services at the level of each individual user but with an unsustainable amount of water use for the entire economy. This might be happening already in many places with the modernization of irrigated agriculture, the world’s largest water user and the one offering the most promising water saving opportunities. In spite of high expectations, modern irrigation techniques seem not to be contributing to reduce water scarcity and increase drought resiliency. In fact, according to the little evidence available, in some areas they are resulting in higher water use. Building on basic economic principles this study aims to show the conditions under which this apparently paradoxical outcome, known as the Jevons’ Paradox, might appear. This basic model is expected to serve as guidance for assessing the actual outcomes of increasing irrigation efficiency and to discuss the changes in water governance that would be required for this to make a real contribution to sustainable water management.

Keywords: Jevons' Paradox, Rebound Effect, Agricultural Economics, Water Economics, Irrigation Efficiency

JEL Classification: Q15, Q18, Q25, Q51, Q58

Suggested Citation

Gomez, Carlos and Pérez-Blanco, Carlos, Simple Myths and Basic Maths About Greening Irrigation (February 16, 2015). FEEM Working Paper No. 8.2015, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2565683 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2565683

Carlos Gomez

Universidad de Alcalá ( email )

Madrid, Alcala de Henares 28801
Spain
+ 34 91 885 42 84 (Phone)
+ 34 91 885 42 39 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www2.uah.es/econ

Carlos Pérez-Blanco (Contact Author)

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM), Venice ( email )

Campo S. M. Formosa, Castello 5252
Venezia, 30122
Italy

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