It is no coincidence that from the origin of the first human civilisations (Mesopotamia, Egypt, etc.) the same driving force was concealed; irrigated agriculture. Indeed, only when human beings learned to combine adequately the factors of labour, land and water could the necessary food surpluses be generated to allow the specialisation of labour and trade. Since antiquity, the use of water in agriculture has been a basic element for the survival and economic and social progress of humanity. This explains why, since then, the irrigated area of the world has not ceased to grow, Review. The evolution of research regarding the economics of irrigation water
AbstractThis work analyses the main research trends (subjects, methodology used, countries of the authors and data) in the economics of irrigation water during the last 10 years (2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009). For this purpose, a quantitative methodology has been used which is new to this sphere, based on the review of a representative sample of 332 papers published in the 15 most important journals focused on this field of science indexed in the databases of the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), the Science Citation Index (SCI) and the Social Science Citation Index (SCCI). The results obtained confirm: a) the notable growth in the number of papers published, especially in the last three years, b) the high degree of collaboration between authors, including those of different origin, for their performance c) the prominence of the USA, Australia, India and Spain as the countries of the first authors and origin of the data, d) the greater attention given to subjects related with «investment project analysis», «production planning» and, especially, «production function and productivity of water», and e) the predominance of empirical studies that use basic analysis approaches (cost analysis, investment evaluation, etc.).Additional key words: literature review; quantitative approach; research methods; subject areas.
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Revisión. Evolución de la investigación en economía del agua de riegoEl presente trabajo analiza las principales tendencias de investigación (temáticas, metodologías utilizadas, países de los autores y de los datos) en economía del agua de riego en los últimos 10 años (2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009). Para ello, se ha utilizado una metodología cuantitativa, novedosa en este ámbito, basada en la revisión de una muestra representativa de 332 artículos publicados en las 15 revistas más importantes en este ámbito científico, indexadas en las bases de datos del Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), el Science Citation Index (SCI) y el Social Science Citation Index (SCCI). Los resultados obtenidos confirman: a) el notable crecimiento del número de artículos publicados, sobre todo, en los tres últimos años, b) la elevada colaboración entre los autores para su realización, incluso de diferente procedencia, c) el protagonismo de EEUU, Australia, India y España como países de los primer...