Damming the commons: an empirical analysis of international cooperation and conflict in dam location

Sheila M. Olmstead and Hilary Sigman

No 6992, Policy Research Working Paper Series from The World Bank

Abstract: This paper examines whether countries consider the welfare of other nations when they make water development decisions. The paper estimates econometric models of the location of major dams around the world as a function of the degree of international sharing of rivers. The analysis finds that dams are more prevalent in areas of river basins upstream of foreign countries, supporting the view that countries free ride in exploiting water resources. There is weak evidence that international water management institutions reduce the extent of such free-riding.

Keywords: River Basin Management; Dams and Reservoirs; Water Supply and Systems; Water Supply and Sanitation Governance and Institutions; Water and Industry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014-07-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-env
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Damming the Commons: An Empirical Analysis of International Cooperation and Conflict in Dam Location (2015)
Working Paper: Damming the Commons: An Empirical Analysis of International Cooperation and Conflict in Dam Location (2014)
Working Paper: Damming the Commons: An Empirical Analysis of International Cooperation and Conflict in Dam Location (2014)
Working Paper: Damming the Commons: An Empirical Analysis of International Cooperation and Conflict in Dam Location (2014)
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