Equity-Efficiency Trade-Offs in Irrigation Water Sharing: Evidence from a Field Lab in Rural Tanzania

D’Exelle, Ben, Els Lecoutere and Bjorn Van Campenhout
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Ben D'Exelle

World Development, 2012, vol. 40, issue 12, 2537-2551

Abstract: This article studies how users of scarce common water resources deal with equity-efficiency trade-offs. For this purpose, we conduct a field lab experiment in Tanzania that simulates the distribution of irrigation water between upstream and downstream users. We find a strong preference for equal sharing even if this comes with large foregone efficiency gains. However, we also find indications that efficiency considerations are taken into account. (Selfish) deviations from equal sharing are more likely implemented when they are efficiency-enhancing. Finally, we detect a tendency to alternate between altruistic and selfish sharing, which reconciles equity and efficiency considerations.

Keywords: equity-efficiency trade-offs; egalitarian norms; distribution of irrigation water; field lab experiment; Tanzania (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:40:y:2012:i:12:p:2537-2551

DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2012.05.026

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