| Authors |
Pashardes, P., Koundouri, P. and Hajispyrou, S. |
| Title |
Household demand and welfare: implications of water pricing in Cyprus |
| Abstract |
This paper considers a model of household demand for water in a theoretical framework consistent with funtamendal principles of comsumer behaviour. It applies this model to individual household data to estimate the price and income
elasticities of residential demand for water in Cyprus and evaluate the welfare effects associated with changes in the water pricing system. We &nd that the current regionally heterogeneous increasing block pricing system in the island introduces gross price distortions that are not justi&ed either on efficiency or equity grounds. A shift towards uniform marginal cost pricing will eliminate the deadweight loss of the current system. However, its bene&ts will be distributed in favour of the better off households. Overall, price can be an effective tool for residential water demand
management, however, it may also lead to socially undesirable distributional effects on households. |
| Publication Status |
Published in Environment and Development Economics |
| Keywords |
Residential water demand, increasing block pricing, consumer welfare, water management |
| Classification JEL |
D,D6,Q25 |
| File |
HOUSEHOLD_DEMAND.pdf (224352 bytes) |
| File-Function |
First version |
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Copyright © 2009 [D.I.E.S.S. A.U.E.B.]. All rights reserved.
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