Estimating elasticities of demand and willingness to pay for clean drinking water: empirical evidence from a household level survey in northern Pakistan

This study estimates income and price elasticities of demand for improved drinking water quality in Peshawar, Pakistan. The estimates indicate that improved water can be described as a necessity but normal and an ordinary and price elastic service. Confidence intervals show however that the classification as a necessity is statistically significant. Income elasticities of willingness to pay for drinking water are estimated. The study finds that income and willingness to pay vary directly and significantly. The elasticity estimates, in general, are greater than zero, but less than unity. The study concludes that improvements in drinking water are more beneficial to low‐income groups than for high‐income groups.     

An integrated approach to public’s perception of urban water use and ownership of water companies during a period of economic crisis. Case study in Athens,Greece

ABSTRACT

This study applies an integrated approach to investigate public perception of residential water issues during a period of economic crisis. The study investigates the perceptions and practices of Athenians in water conservation, their satisfaction with the supplied water, their opinion on the privatization of Water Company and their willingness for additional payment for the improvement of water services. A survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire. Results indicate that the respondents have adopted water conservation practices, but there is still room for further saving. Most of the respondents declared to be satisfied with the supplied water and do not agree to the privatization of water companies. Women, older participants and those having lower income are less willing for additional payment. Research findings are useful tool for policymakers to design policies and make decisions regarding water management, ownership of water companies and changes in behavior of water use.     

Implementing congestion pricing policies in a MENA Region City: Analysis of the impact on travel behaviour and equity

The aim of this study is to examine the impact of implementing HOT lanes and/or cordon pricing as two types of congestion pricing policies on traveller's willingness to pay and travel behaviour in the city of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the MENA Region. In addition, the paper investigates the potential equity implication of implementing a cordon pricing policy. Trip conditions, travellers' socioeconomic characteristics, and mode shift are used as benchmarks to evaluate the impacts of implementing these policies. Different numerical indicators are selected to evaluate each strategy, such as willingness to pay, trip urgency, trip speed and distance, travellers' income, age, gender, nationality, and vehicle ownership. Data are collected through stated preference and revealed preference survey questionnaires. The results show that travellers from different socioeconomic groups are willing to pay to use HOT lanes to escape congestion and that willingness to pay increases as the trip conditions worsen. However, the overall effect of cordon pricing would be regressive. High-income travellers benefit the most, and they are willing to pay the charges to save travel time. Low-income travellers have to pay the toll or use public transportation more often.     

An empirical examination of the distributional impacts of water pricing reforms

Water pricing reforms may promote conservation and economic efficiency. However, it is possible for water pricing reforms to be regressive. We estimate Stone-Geary and double-log residential water demand functions using data from the Capital Region District of British Columbia, Canada. Two price reforms are simulated: an across-the-board price increase and an increasing block rate structure. The distributional impacts depend on the specification of water demands. For the across-the-board price increase, the double-log model shows no change in the distribution of water expenditures while the Stone-Geary specification indicates a worsening of the inequality of water expenditures.     

城市水价的定价目标、构成和原则

明确了城市水价的四元结构组成，即水资源费、水利工程供水价格、城市供水价格以及污水处理费四部分；提出水价定价目标是政府、消费者和企业三方利益的均衡；从决定水价的政治、经济、社会等综合因素出发，进一步将水价按属性分为资源水价、环境水价和工程水价，并对三种水价的性质和定价原则分别进行了阐述，对全成本核算的适用范围进行了界定。     

刍议散热器设计选型

列举了经常使用的各种散热器,分析其材质及使用条件,并从散热器施工安装形式、热媒水质、散热器材质、金属热强度及热价比等方面进行分析并指出了工程设计选用中应注意的事项.     

构建城市供水定价机制的对策探讨

根据城市供水的价格构成,分析我国城市供水价格不合理的现状及成因,最后提出建立科学的城市供水定价机制的对策。     

Value of scenic views: Hedonic assessment of private housing in Hong Kong

Diverse landscape elements in cities are valued differently by residents. People are willing to pay a premium for attractive views. This study assessed the amenity value of two major types of natural landscape in Hong Kong: harbor and mountain. The study was based on 1474 transactions in 2005 and 2006 in 18 private housing estates in a residential district. The high-rise and high-density blocks were typical for middle-income housing in the city. The hedonic pricing method was employed to estimate the proportional share of various views and factors on transaction prices. Only harbor view was preferred and reflected in housing value. A broad harbor view could increase the value of an apartment by 2.97%, equivalent to US$ 15,173. Even a confined harbor view could lift price by 2.18% or US$ 11,137. On the contrary, a broad mountain view would depress apartment price by 6.7%, whereas a confined mountain view was statistically insignificant. Increasing distance between an apartment and a preferred natural landscape would lower transaction price. The negative perception of street view induced a price reduction by 3.7%. Building views were tolerated as an inevitable feature of the compact and vertical city. Quantifying the value of nature and scenic endowments in cities could inform policies and strategies on urban planning, development, nature conservation, and property appraisal.     

Public willingness to pay a premium for uni‐material beverage container in Korea: a contingent valuation study

The use of uni‐materials can reduce the total waste generation by a high recycling rate. This study assesses the public's willingness to pay (WTP) a premium for the uni‐material beverage container (UBC) in Korea using a specific case of bottled mineral water in polyethylene terephthalate (PET). For this purpose, a contingent valuation (CV) survey of 1000 consumers was conducted to derive the additional WTP for the mineral water in UBC instead of that in non‐UBC. Given that the average price of the mineral water (500 mL) in non‐UBC was KRW 1000 (USD 0.88), the mean additional WTP a premium for that in UBC was estimated to be KRW 107 (USD 0.09). This value amounts to 10.7% of price of the mineral water in non‐UBC and can be interpreted as the public value of the UBC. The consumers in Korea are ready to pay a significant premium for UBCs.     

城市工业用水量指标取值探讨

通过对常州城市代表性工业企业用水量和用地面积的调研,分析了现状地均工业用水量指标,结合工业用水量的影响因素,提出常州城市地均工业用水量指标取值的建议,为城市供水规划、排水规划等的编制提供了较为可靠的依据,同时为同类城市提供参考。     

Servant of too many masters: Residential water pricing and the challenge of sustainability

This paper discusses the state-of-the-art of the economic debate around water pricing, focussing on residential water supply and sanitation. Water pricing lays at the crossroads of many fields of economic analysis, and may be used to address many different problems: efficient allocation of water resources, ecological sustainability, guarantee of social rights, financial viability of investments. Different problems require different approaches and solutions. Rather than a “magic stick” that solves all problems by simply “getting the price right”, water charges must be seen as one of the many levers that policymakers can use: possibly a very effective one, but keeping in mind that it cannot solve all problems at the same time. Diversely from a simplistic interpretation of mainstream economics, deeply rooted in the European water policy, full-cost recovery and economic efficiency, social and ecological sustainability are separate issues that must not be confounded. This statement leads the way to a wider and more creative use of public finance.     

PPP模式下地下综合管廊项目运营价格调整研究

现阶段大批地下综合管廊PPP项目投入运营在即,亟需建立科学合理的运营期价格调整机制。从分析影响地下综合管廊PPP项目收费定价的主要因素出发,根据价格动态调整的相关原则,引入社会福利函数建立收费定价动态调整模型,并运用实例分析对模型进行验证。研究发现:项目收费定价的动态调整依据是政府方的偏好,政府更注重管线单位的受益才能提高社会福利的总额。     

Analysis of a current water tariff and attitudes towards change: A representative study from a Palestinian city

The problem of an outdated tariff has become acute recently with increased water scarcity in Palestine. Therefore, the goals of the study were to analyse the factors that could affect the water consumption in Jericho governorate, Palestine; explore societal perceptions of alternative water sources; and to identify areas that need to be re-examined for tariff revision or changes to water source and delivery. A total of 76% of the respondents know the water tariff price, and 61% of the sample considers the tariff as high. Future suggestions to raise the price of water will meet resistance. Interestingly, 66% of the respondents agree with the possible future use of treated wastewater, and 46% of the respondents emphasize that treated wastewater is the most favoured solution for water scarcity. Overall, the results indicate the public identifies water conservation as possible and that alternative actions can be applied in order to manage and conserve water resources.     

分析基于低碳理念的城市规划设计策略

随着人类文明的不断进步,城市迅速发展。越是发达的城市,其人口密集程度越高、工商业发展越快。现代发达的城市往往对能源的消费量更大、依赖性更强。现在各个国家的能源消耗问题与环境污染越来越严重,节能减排等相关问题开始引起人们的强烈关注。尤其是在城市规划中加入低碳理念是当前我们必须重视的问题之一,我们在城市规划过程中也开始向节能方向发展。坚持低碳理念,走可持续发展道路已成为城市发展的必然选择。文章注重探讨城市低碳理念的基本概念和主要内容,分析我国建设低碳理念城市所面临的一些具体问题,有针对的提出低碳理念的城市发展解决建议。     

Farmers’ willingness‐to‐pay towards soil and water conservation measures in agro‐ecosystems of Chotanagpur Plateau,India

Lack of importance given to farmers’ knowledge and perceptions towards soil and water conservation (SWC) is a major factor responsible for failure of conservation programs. The study explores farmers understanding of SWC and further adds to the limited empirical evidence towards farmers’ willingness‐to‐pay (WTP) for SWC. Contingent valuation survey conducted to elicit the WTP (cash and labor days) for SWC draws attention to the importance of adopting SWC to ensure year‐round water availability. The willing households of the area could generate US$1302.2 and/or 1207 labor days monthly. The WTP (cash) showed strong positive influence by qualification, total income, off‐farm income and previous irrigation farming experience; while WTP (labor days) showed strong negative influence by age, qualification, dependency ratio, market access and livestock holding. The study will be useful for decision makers regarding investments and policy purposes for soil–water conservation measures in agricultural lands of developing countries.     

Consumer preferences and electricity pricing reform in Western Australia

Australia's electricity prices are high, driven by rising peak demand that is forcing significant levels of infrastructure investment. Compounding these factors is the lack of transparent price signals for consumers, with uniform pricing structures providing no incentive to change consumption behaviours.This research surveyed residential electricity consumers in Western Australia about their perceptions of solar, consumption behaviour, and electricity pricing structures.The results suggest that customers in Western Australia may be willing to change behaviour, reduce electricity usage, and be rewarded for use of renewable technologies, highlighting an opportunity for policies such as retail tariff reform to be further explored.     

Pricing irrigation water in Mexico: Efficiency,equity and revenue considerations

The withdrawal of water for irrigation in the dryer regions of Mexico already accounts for some 91% of potential availability. Further expansion of irrigated acreage, therefore, must rely more on increased water use efficiency rather than increased supply from engineering works. A prime instrument to bring about such an improvement could be an appropriate water pricing structure. The first three sections of the paper present the conceptual issues involved, as well as the empirical findings which show that irrigation farmers pay, on average, less than 10% of actual water costs. Water use efficiencies are shown to be less than 50% but are markedly higher in irrigation districts with volumetric compared to those with fixed water charges. The fourth section develops some representative pricing structures that are designed to account for both efficiency and income distributional goals, while the last one addresses some of the likely implementation problems.(Formerly World-Bank-UNDP economics advisor, Plan National Hidraulico) and Vocal Ejecutivo, Comisión Del Plan National Hidraulico, Mexico. The contents of this paper summarize the findings of a much larger study which is being published in Mexico (25). The objectives of Mexico's National Water Plan have been detailed in (18).     

Re-examining the ‘low water tariff’ hypothesis: lessons from Hyderabad,India

Researchers suggest urban water utilities in India operate on low tariffs, consequently earning revenue insufficient to recover operation and management (O&M) costs of water storage, treatment and distribution. From findings of a field study conducted in Hyderabad, India, the paper suggests otherwise. While ‘stated’ tariffs are low, households currently pay tariffs far higher than in other regions of the world because of institutional indifference toward improving service attributes, particularly quantity and poor measurement of domestic water consumption; following which, poor communities pay more for less. While poor cost recovery precludes improved performance of urban water utilities, targeting this facet alone at the cost of other aspects of service does not, as the paper demonstrates, necessarily lead toward qualitative service improvement or toward improved households' perception of water services.     

Sustainable water use and the nexus of behavioural intentions: the case of four South African communities

South Africa continues to ramp up public campaigns to rein in escalating water demand against the backdrop of dwindling and erratic supply. While the water conservation campaign appears to resonate with commercial and urban water users, it does not seem to have gained traction with rural and periurban residents. Using the sequential mixed methods, this paper explores the water conservation attitudes, behaviour and intentions of rural and periurban respondents in four South African communities. Results reveal respondents consider water conservation important and are favourably disposed to conserving water. Attitude, subjective norm and behavioural control emerged as significant factors influencing respondents’ water conservation intentions. The study concludes that rural and periurban residents are yet to develop a social ethic of water conservation essential in creating sustainability of resource use.