Economic analysis of alternative institutional structures for governance of water use

摘要

Evaluation of alternative institutional structures for governance of the use of water resources has in the past been incomplete and based largely on pro-market ideology rather than rigorous analysis. This is not to deny the benefits that have arisenfrom market-based reforms in water allocation. Rather, it is recognising that many of the issues being grappled with in relation to institutional reform relate to collective-action dilemmas and externality problems that may complicate and limit the application and effectiveness of market systems as institutions for resource allocation. In this paper, a framework is presented for addressing policy problems of institutional choice that encompasses the roles of markets, governments and other decision-making entities. Illustrative application is made to institutional reforms in the management of water resources of the Murrav-Darling Rivers in Australia and the Sukhothai Province of Thailand.