Cost–Benefit Analysis and Water Resources Management

How are the economic values of water and water quality accounted for in policy and project appraisal? This important book gives an overview of the state-of-the-art in Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) in water resources management throughout Europe and North America, along with an examination of current applications. The distinguished authors highlight problems and challenges encountered in the use of CBA in 15 country-specific case studies. Based on these case studies, the value and limits of CBA in water resources management are assessed and special attention is paid to the institutional and policy context in which CBA is carried out. Cost-Benefit Analysis and Water Resources Management is written for both academics and policymakers interested in the use and usefulness of CBA in water resources management.

Table of Contents:
Contents: 1. Introduction R. Brouwer and D.W. Pearce 2. Economic Criteria for Water Allocation and Valuation R.A. Young 3. Water as an Economic Good J. Briscoe 4. Appraising Flood Control Investments in the UK D.W. Pearce and R. Smale 5. Cost–benefit Analysis and Flood Control Policy in the Netherlands R. Brouwer and J.M. Kind 6. Cost–benefit Analysis of River Restoration in Denmark A. Dubgaard, M.F. Kallesøe, J. Ladenburg and M.L. Petersen 7. Cost–benefit Analysis and Complex River Basin Management in the Stockholm Archipelago in Sweden P. Frykblom, H. Scharin, T. Söderqvist and A. Helgesson 8. The Costs and Benefits of Implementing the European Urban Waste Water Directive in Greece A. Kontogianni, M. Skourtos, B. Zanou and I.H. Langford 9. Cost–benefit Analysis of the Remedial Action Plan to Improve Water Quality in the Great Lakes in Canada D.P. Dupont and S. Renzetti 10. Benefit–cost Analysis of Regulations Affecting Surface Water Quality in the United States C. Griffiths and W. Wheeler 11. The Costs and Benefits of a Revised European Bathing Water Directive in the Netherlands R. Brouwer and R. Bronda 12. Cost–benefit Analysis of Improved Bathing Water Quality in the United Kingdom as a Result of a Revision of the European Bathing Water Directive S. Georgiou, I.J. Bateman and I.H. Langford 13. Cost–benefit Analysis of Large-Scale Groundwater Remediation in France J.-D. Rinaudo and S. Loubier 14. Cost–benefit Analysis and Efficient Water Allocation in Cyprus B. Groom, P. Koundouri and T. Swanson 15. Cost–benefit Analysis, Water Scarcity and Sustainable Water Use in Spain J. Maestu, P. Campos-Palacín and J. López-Linage 16. Cost–benefit Analysis of Urban Water Supply in Mexico City G. Soto Montes de Oca and I.J. Bateman Index

About the Author :
Edited by Roy Brouwer, Executive Director Water Institute, Department of Economics, University of Waterloo, Canada and the late David Pearce, formerly Emeritus Professor of Economics, University College London, UK

Review :
'Water is not just H2O, but has a socioeconomic value for many use and non-use purposes. This volume contains a varied set of very interesting evaluation studies on water resources management. The editors have served the scientific community and relevant policy bodies with a balanced collection of operational contributions to a solid cost-benefit perspective on water management. This book is certainly an eye-opener for anyone interested in the significance of cost-benefit analysis for water policy issues.' 'The book chapters are written to accommodate readers of various disciplines, using a descriptive analysis of complicated issues to be easily comprehended by non-technical readers. The coverage of the issues is also phenomenal, including application of CBA to flood control, river restoration, river basin management, water quality, ground water, and water allocation, to mention only a few. The group of contributing experts is also very impressive, including authoritative practitioners and academicians, all of whom display a high level of expertise and experience. In a world where water becomes a contested scarce resource, the appropriate use of economic tools in a policy context is a very important goal. This book with its authoritative guidance does contribute to achieving it.' 'This book provides a solid foundation in the theory and methods of cost-benefit analysis of water resources, along with a wide range of case studies that illustrate the practical aspects of applying cost-benefit analysis. There is much an aspiring cost-benefit practitioner and water resources planner can learn from this volume to improve the economic efficiency of water resource management.' 'This book offers a unique and very coherent collection of ambitious CBA studies of water-related issues. It can be seen as a showcase of the potential, as well as a test on the limits, of cost-benefit analysis. Given the increasing importance of effective and efficient management of water - in response to water scarcity, water pollution and climate trends - the lessons from this book will be very useful to policymakers and social scientists alike.'