Is small better ? a comparison of the effect of large and small dams on cropland productivity in South Africa

Elodie Blanc (elodie.blanc@motu.org.nz) and Eric Strobl (eastrobl13@gmail.com)

No 6567, Policy Research Working Paper Series from The World Bank

Abstract: This study estimates and compares the effects of small and large irrigation dams on cropland productivity in South Africa. To this end, a panel data set of South African river basins is constructed. The econometric analysis reveals that although large dams increase cropland productivity downstream, they have a negative effect on cropland within the vicinity. However, their existence can enhance the relatively small positive impact of local small dams. Although a cost-benefit analysis of irrigation benefits shows that small dams may be more viable than large ones, large dams can play a potentially important role within a system of both types of dams.

Keywords: River Basin Management; Dams and Reservoirs; Hydro Power; Water and Energy; Water Supply and Systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013-08-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr, nep-agr, nep-cse, nep-eff and nep-ppm
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSC ... ered/PDF/WPS6567.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Is Small Better? A Comparison of the Effect of Large and Small Dams on Cropland Productivity in South Africa (2014)
Working Paper: Is small better? A comparison of the effect of large and small dams on cropland productivity in South Africa (2013)
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:6567

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Policy Research Working Paper Series from The World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20433. Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Roula I. Yazigi (ryazigi@worldbank.org).