Article: Economic market instruments and sustainable urban water use Journal: International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management (IJETM) 2009 Vol.11 No.1/2/3 pp.88 - 101 Abstract: Water is an economic good and as such has as a value to a spectrum of users, who are willing to pay for it. Consumers will use water until the marginal costs exceed the marginal benefits from use of an additional cubic meter of water. Similarly, producers will supply water until the marginal costs exceed the marginal return of an additional cubic meter of water supplied. This article surveys the insights on the desirability and possibilities for using economic policy instruments to attain a sustainable use of water. Special attention will be paid to the scope and viability of price instruments as well as to privatisation and liberalisation of the sector, since these issues feature prominently in the current policy debate. To this aim, we will offer a stylised picture of the water market for end users by devoting particular attention to the relevant characteristics of demand and supply, including market failures that warrant government intervention to regulate the market. Next, the focus is shifted to the possibilities of influencing supply and demand such that the market for water satisfies basic sustainability criteria. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Economic market instruments and sustainable urban water use

Authors: Jasper Dalhuisen, Peter Nijkamp, Henri L.F. De Groot

Addresses: Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, PO Box 16375, 2500 BJ Den Haag, The Netherlands. ' Department of Spatial Economics, VU University, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ' Department of Spatial Economics, VU University, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Abstract: Water is an economic good and as such has as a value to a spectrum of users, who are willing to pay for it. Consumers will use water until the marginal costs exceed the marginal benefits from use of an additional cubic meter of water. Similarly, producers will supply water until the marginal costs exceed the marginal return of an additional cubic meter of water supplied. This article surveys the insights on the desirability and possibilities for using economic policy instruments to attain a sustainable use of water. Special attention will be paid to the scope and viability of price instruments as well as to privatisation and liberalisation of the sector, since these issues feature prominently in the current policy debate. To this aim, we will offer a stylised picture of the water market for end users by devoting particular attention to the relevant characteristics of demand and supply, including market failures that warrant government intervention to regulate the market. Next, the focus is shifted to the possibilities of influencing supply and demand such that the market for water satisfies basic sustainability criteria.

Keywords: government intervention; market failure; price instruments; sustainable water use; water market; economic policy instruments; sustainability; water supply; water demand; urban water use.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2009.027189

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2009 Vol.11 No.1/2/3, pp.88 - 101

Published online: 17 Jul 2009 *

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Title: Economic market instruments and sustainable urban water use

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