Water Resources Management: Policy Economics for an Era of Transitions

Abstract

Prior to the last decade, federal water-project construction programs dominated water policy. These programs continue, but at a reduced level of funding, and the nation now is denning a new agenda of water resources issues to include water quality management and water allocation. Economists engaged in studies of water resources policy, and who seek to influence the direction of policy through research, teaching, and extension will find these exciting times.

Capacity strengthening in environmental and natural resource policy analysis: Meeting the changing needs

“…The long-term training in environmental and natural resource policy analysis and research, such as the masters and doctoral programs offered by developed country institutions, while strengthening the analytical skills based on theory, provide little opportunity to apply these skills in solving actual policy problems (Shabman, 1984). This is also true for any applied field that requires analysis and research in solving policy problems (Cairncross, 1986;Hansen, 1991;Woolf, 1992).…”

Environmental Policy Reform: A Taxonomy of Economists' Perspectives

“…Both groups base their concern on perceived limitations of contemporary democratic processes. The equally fervent subscriptions to rent-seeking theories of political process (Shabman 1995) support this common skepticism of the political process, but do not lead to common solutions.…”

“…Some environmental groups, which had long been antagonistic toward the economist's environmental policy prescriptions (Shabman 1984), became proponents. For instance, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) was instrumental in the design and acceptance of the nutrient trading system for North Carolina's Tar-Pamlico river basin (Rader), and regularly advocates the use of allowance trading programs under the Clean Air Act (EDF Letter).…”