J.H. (Erik) Ansink : “Allocating water in an international river”

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29 Sep 2009 11:00
Location: Aula, building 362, Gen. Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen
Organisation: Wageningen University
Promotor: prof.dr. E.C. van Ierland (Environmental Economics and Natural Resources)
Co Promotor: Dr. H.P. Weikard, Dr. A.J.W. Ruijs

 Water is scarce. Through climate change impacts and growing water demand, this scarcity increases so that there may not be enough water to satisfy the demand of all countries along a river. As a result, agreements on water allocation may be broken and conflicts may arise. An unresolved challenge is how cooperation in water allocation can be improved. In this thesis I respond to this challenge by analysing water allocation focusing on countries' strategic interaction. The results show that increasing water scarcity aggravates noncompliance and conflicts, but that a careful agreement design suffices to provide stability. Existing claims and property rights to water are important determinants for both the probability of conflict over river water, and the outcome of negotiations on water allocation. In addition, I show how to design sharing rules for river water that have some attractive properties. Overall, this thesis provides insight into the strategic aspects that play an important role in the transboundary water allocation problem and its possible solutions.

Title: “Game-theoretic models of water allocation in transboundary river basins”

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