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Rebound Effect of Irrigation Technologies? The Role of Water Rights

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  • Li, Haoyang
  • Zhao, Jinhua

Abstract

In this paper, we study the role of water rights in limiting the rebound effects of LEPA irrigation in the High Plains Aquifer region of Kansas, and farmer incentives to preserve their water rights. We find that the rebound effect is moderated by water rights and is high only when a well has large water rights, and limiting water rights raises farmer incentives to adopt LEPA. Reducing water rights thus can limit the undesirable rebound effects of new technologies without hurting incentives to adopt them. A significant portion of the effects of LEPA in raising water uses is through farmers switching to more water intensive crops such as corn and soybean, and through farmers raising their irrigated acreages after the adoption of LEPA. We also find that farmers have incentive to preserve water rights even when irrigation is not needed in the current period. The incentive is the highest if the farmer expects to use a large volume of water to irrigate, and is the lowest if the farmer expects not to use any water at all in the next period.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Haoyang & Zhao, Jinhua, 2016. "Rebound Effect of Irrigation Technologies? The Role of Water Rights," 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts 235966, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:aaea16:235966
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.235966
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    1. Lee, Gi-Eu & Rollins, Kimberly S. & Singletary, Loretta, 2017. "An Empirical Analysis of Water Allocation Efficiency through the Prior Appropriation Doctrine: A Case Study in the Carson River Valley, Nevada," 2017 Annual Meeting, July 30-August 1, Chicago, Illinois 258225, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    2. Song, Jianfeng & Guo, Yanan & Wu, Pute & Sun, SHikun, 2018. "The Agricultural Water Rebound Effect in China," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 497-506.
    3. Zhang, Ling & Ma, Qimin & Zhao, Yanbo & Wu, Xiaobo & Yu, Wenjun, 2019. "Determining the influence of irrigation efficiency improvement on water use and consumption by conceptually considering hydrological pathways," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 674-681.
    4. Wang, Yanyun & Long, Aihua & Xiang, Liyun & Deng, Xiaoya & Zhang, Pei & Hai, Yang & Wang, Jie & Li, Yang, 2020. "The verification of Jevons’ paradox of agricultural Water conservation in Tianshan District of China based on Water footprint," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).

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