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

Elodie Blanc () and Eric Strobl ()

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
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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

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