Publication
Title
The impact of the water rights system on smallholder irrigators' willingness to pay for water in Limpopo province, South Africa
Author
Abstract
Water rights are currently receiving increased attention from scholars and policymakers due to the growing understanding that ill-defined water rights impair efficient use. In South Africa, smallholder irrigation faces problems of low water use efficiency and cost recovery of government investments. This study uses contingent ranking to analyse the willingness to pay (WTP) of smallholder irrigators for changes in the water rights system. The results indicate that smallholders are prepared to pay considerably higher water prices if these are connected to improvements in the water rights system. By segmenting the population it was also shown that the importance attached to water rights dimensions varies in each segment. While lower institutional trust and lower income levels lead to a lower WTP for transferability, experiencing water shortage increases this WTP. Such information is valuable in guiding policy makers in the future design of water rights.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Environment and development economics
Publication
2010
ISSN
1355-770X
DOI
10.1017/S1355770X10000161
Volume/pages
15 :4 (2010) , p. 465-483
ISI
000281048200005
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 10.11.2010
Last edited 23.08.2022
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