Is the rebound effect or Jevons paradox a useful concept for better management of water resources? Insights from the Irrigation Modernisation Process in Spain

Aurélien Dumont (), Beatriz Mayor and Elena López-Gunn
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Aurélien Dumont: Departamento de Geodinámica - UCM - Universidad Complutense de Madrid = Complutense University of Madrid [Madrid]
Beatriz Mayor: Departamento de Geodinámica - UCM - Universidad Complutense de Madrid = Complutense University of Madrid [Madrid]
Elena López-Gunn: Observatorio del Agua de la Fundación Botín - UCM - Universidad Complutense de Madrid = Complutense University of Madrid [Madrid] - UPM - Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

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Abstract: Improving the efficiency of water use is usually presented as an opportunity for large water savings, particularly in the agricultural sector. Warnings that this may not translate into reduced consumption is sometimes associated with the rebound effect or Jevons paradox, an appealing concept that can be used to analyse and prevent undesired consequences in the rush for efficiency gains. This article, based on the energy sector, shows that the concept helps to identify possible unintended consequences of increasing efficiency and shows how efficiency gains are shared in society. However, it might be conceptually misleading when applied to water since it reinforces a myth on the consideration of water savings and efficiency, and may be also too restrictive. The recent modernisation of irrigation practices in Spain highlights that the rebound effect is only one of many possible consequences of efficiency improvements.

Keywords: irrigation; rebound effect; Jevons paradox; efficiency; return flows; modernisation; Spain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013-08-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-00991778
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (21)

Published in Aquatic Procedia, 2013, 1, pp.64-76. ⟨10.1016/j.aqpro.2013.07.006⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-00991778

DOI: 10.1016/j.aqpro.2013.07.006

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