Future Dams Lecture with Michael Hanemann: Why the economics of water are so hard
| Dates: | 9 March 2018 |
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| Times: | 12:00 - 13:30 |
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| What is it: | Lecture |
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| Organiser: | Global Development Institute |
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| How much: | Free |
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| Who is it for: | University staff, Adults, Alumni, Current University students, General public, Post 16 |
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| Speaker: | Prof Michael Hanemann |
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The Future Dams project is pleased to present Professor Michael Hanemann, Arizona State University to discuss why the economics of water are so hard.
Economists typically analyse water issues using the same theoretical models they apply to other commodities. Like all theoretical models, those economic models simplify reality in order to focus on the key questions. However, the models become useless, even counterproductive, if they oversimplify, if they omit elements that are essential to the issue being considered. That happens frequently with economic analyses of water. Water has some distinctive features that are often overlooked or omitted in economic analyses – physical, attitudinal and legal features.
Because of its distinctive physical characteristics – water flows, its quantity is variable, the same molecule can be used sequentially for different uses by different people, in some uses it functions as a private good, in others as a public good, some of its uses (especially in agriculture) are only intermittent – water is a very heterogeneous commodity. Water is an entangled commodity – because of externalities associated with the use of water; because the supply of water (especially surface water) involves shared infrastructure that is jointly financed; and because of legal property rights which make water something of a communal good. More than any other commodity, water raises issues of equity.
Water also arouses strong feelings among the public that place real constraints on how it is provided and financed. In consequence, conflict is almost endemic in water; so is underpricing. Water economics needs to be more about bargaining and less about optimisation. Analysing the economics of water with a narrow focus on aggregate efficiency is usually misguided and often counter-productive.
The lecture will be followed by a Q&A session.
This event is open to members of the public and information on the accessibility of the venue is detailed at this link: https://www.disabledgo.com/access-guide/the-university-of-manchester/university-place-2
This lecture is organised by the Future Dams Research Consortium: design and assessment of water-energy-food-environment mega-systems.
Speaker
Prof Michael Hanemann
Organisation: Arizona State University
Biography: Michael Hanemann is a Chancellor's Professor and Professor of Environmental and Resource Economics in the Department of Agricultural and Resources Economics, where he has been on the faculty since 1968. Prior to coming to Berkeley, he earned a B.A. from Oxford University in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, a M.Sc. in Economics from the London School of Economics and Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University.
Travel and Contact Information
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3.20
University Place
Manchester
