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Is Small Better? A Comparison of the Effect of Large and Small Dams on Cropland Productivity in South Africa

Author

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  • Elodie Blanc
  • Eric Strobl

Abstract

We estimate and compare the effects of small and large irrigation dams on cropland productivity in South Africa. To this end, we construct a panel data set of South African river basins. The econometric analysis reveals that although large dams increase cropland productivity downstream, they have a negative effect on cropland within the vicinity. However, their existence can enhance the relatively small positive impact of local small dams. Although a cost-benefit analysis of irrigation benefits shows that small dams may be more viable than large ones, large dams can play a potentially important role within a system of both types of dams.

Suggested Citation

  • Elodie Blanc & Eric Strobl, 2014. "Is Small Better? A Comparison of the Effect of Large and Small Dams on Cropland Productivity in South Africa," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 28(3), pages 545-576.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:wbecrv:v:28:y:2014:i:3:p:545-576.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/wber/lht026
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    Cited by:

    1. Anwar Hussain & Khalil Ur Rahman & Muhammad Shahid & Sajjad Haider & Quoc Bao Pham & Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh & Saad Shauket Sammen, 2022. "Investigating feasible sites for multi-purpose small dams in Swat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan: socioeconomic and environmental considerations," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(9), pages 10852-10875, September.
    2. Yan, Wenshou & Wang, Ruoxuan & Huang, Kaixing, 2025. "The Growth Tide: Quasi-Experimental Evidence on the Regional Economic Impacts of Mega-Dams," MPRA Paper 127196, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Sebastien Desbureaux & Jason Russ & Jorge Escurra & Richard Damania & Aude-Sophie Rodella & Esha Zaveri, 2019. "Salt of the Earth," World Bank Publications - Reports 33070, The World Bank Group.
    4. repec:ipg:wpaper:2014-478 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. repec:ipg:wpaper:2014-475 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. repec:ipg:wpaper:2014-492 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. repec:ags:aaea22:335448 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. He, Xi, 2023. "Dams, cropland productivity, and economic development in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    9. Mettetal, Elizabeth, 2019. "Irrigation dams, water and infant mortality: Evidence from South Africa," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 17-40.
    10. Sundar Ponnusamy, 2022. "Rainfall shocks, child mortality, and water infrastructure," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(7), pages 1317-1338, July.
    11. Russ,Jason Daniel & Zaveri,Esha Dilip & Damania,Richard & Desbureaux,Sebastien Gael & Escurra,Jorge Jose & Rodella,Aude-Sophie, 2020. "Salt of the Earth : Quantifying the Impact of Water Salinity on Global Agricultural Productivity," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9144, The World Bank.
    12. repec:ipg:wpaper:2014-454 is not listed on IDEAS
    13. repec:ipg:wpaper:2014-453 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Hansani, K.U.D.N. & Schuster, Lukas & Macreadie, Peter I. & Malerba, Martino E., 2025. "Nature positive farm dams," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).
    15. repec:ipg:wpaper:2014-558 is not listed on IDEAS
    16. Wan, Guanghua & Wang, Chen & Zhang, Xun & Zuo, Congming, 2024. "Income inequality effect of public utility infrastructure: Evidence from rural China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    17. Pinhati, Filipe Sampaio Casulari & Rodrigues, Lineu Neiva & Aires de Souza, Saulo, 2020. "Modelling the impact of on-farm reservoirs on dry season water availability in an agricultural catchment area of the Brazilian savannah," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    18. Blakeslee, David & Dar, Aaditya & Fishman, Ram & Malik, Samreen & Pellegrina, Heitor S. & Bagavathinathan, Karan Singh, 2023. "Irrigation and the spatial pattern of local economic development in India," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    19. Samuel Adams & Michael Martey & Charles Amoatey & Joseph Taabazuing & Richard Otoo & Emmanuel Abokyi, 2024. "An Exploratory Study of the Impact of the One-Village-One-Dam Initiative in Northern Ghana," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-17, October.
    20. Mary, Sebastien J. & Stoler, Avraham & Shafiq, Sarah & Craven, Kyle, 2023. "Dams of Malaria," 2023 Annual Meeting, July 23-25, Washington D.C. 335448, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    21. Zaveri, Esha D. & Russ, Jason & Damania, Richard, "undated". "Drenched Fields and Parched Farms: Evidence along the Extensive and Intensive Margins," 2017 Annual Meeting, July 30-August 1, Chicago, Illinois 258409, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

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