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Presumptions of linearity and faith in the power of centralised decision-making: two challenges to the efficient management of environmental water in Australia

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  • Crase, Lin
  • O'Keefe, Suzanne
  • Dollery, Brian

Abstract

Water policy in the Murray-Darling Basin continues to be dominated by the trade-offs between agricultural and environmental interests. This has recently been played out with the acrimonious debate that circumscribed the release of the Guide to the Murray- Darling Basin Plan. In this paper, we argue that too much emphasis has been placed on the volume of held water as an indicator of environmental benefit. We also contend that there is an attendant presumption of linearity in the relationship between volumes of held water and environmental benefit which could lead to perverse outcomes. A second problem is that there is too much enthusiasm for contemplating the solutions to water management problems as residing primarily at the federal level of government. These factors stand to ultimately limit the efficient delivery of environmental objectives.

Suggested Citation

  • Crase, Lin & O'Keefe, Suzanne & Dollery, Brian, 2012. "Presumptions of linearity and faith in the power of centralised decision-making: two challenges to the efficient management of environmental water in Australia," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 56(3), pages 1-12.
  • Handle: RePEc:ags:aareaj:211677
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.211677
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    File URL: https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/211677/files/j.1467-8489.2012.00585.x.pdf
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    1. Lin Crase & Brian Dollery & Sue O’Keefe, 2011. "Managing Environmental Water: Lessons in Crafting Efficient Governance Arrangements," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 30(2), pages 122-134, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Grafton, Rupert Quentin, 2019. "Policy review of water reform in the Murray– Darling Basin, Australia: the “do’s” and “do’nots”," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 63(1), January.
    2. Alistair Watson & Eve Merton, 2013. "Food Security in Australia: Some Misplaced Enthusiasms?," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 32(3), pages 317-327, September.

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    Keywords

    Environmental Economics and Policy;

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