IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/waterr/v38y2024i3d10.1007_s11269-023-03707-6.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How do Multi-Scale Virtual Water Flows of Large River Economic Belts Impact Regional Water Distribution: Based on a Nested Input-Output Model

Author

Listed:
  • Mingdong Jiang

    (Southeast University)

  • Xinxin Yu

    (Renmin University of China)

  • Mengyuan Dai

    (Green and Low Carbon Development Institute, Yancheng Institute of Technology)

  • Xiaomei Shen

    (Green and Low Carbon Development Institute, Yancheng Institute of Technology)

  • Guanyu Zhong

    (University of New South Wales)

  • Chunlai Yuan

    (Peking University)

Abstract

As key water suppliers and natural channels, large rivers have prospered production and trade. However, the emerging trade brought virtual water flows, which will change the physical water distribution. Accordingly, previous policies for water resources management at different scales should be adjusted to take this into account. Taking the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) as a case study, a multi-scale analysis framework is here constructed to analyze the internal, domestic inter-regional and cross-border virtual water flow patterns. That is the base for the following policy design discussions. The World’s and Chinese Muti-regional Input-output tables are nested and drivers for regional differences in virtual water flows are further disentangled by Structural decomposition analysis (SDA). Results show that current virtual water flows in the large-river economic belts worsen water distribution inequality if no management controls are implemented. Within the basin, net virtual water flows from the water-deficient reaches to upstream regions with abundant water. At an inter-regional scale, the YREB absorbs a net import of 8.44 × 109 m3 from the north with water shortage, but supplies about 6.7 × 108 m3 to the south. From a cross-border perspective, water stress in the YREB is strengthened by developed countries and alleviated by new emerging countries. Industrial structure effect and scale effect decide the direction of virtual water flows at a national scale, while regional structural effect counts more at a global scale. The water embodied in trades matters when carrying out water rights allocation, water transfer projects and water border adjustment mechanisms.

Suggested Citation

  • Mingdong Jiang & Xinxin Yu & Mengyuan Dai & Xiaomei Shen & Guanyu Zhong & Chunlai Yuan, 2024. "How do Multi-Scale Virtual Water Flows of Large River Economic Belts Impact Regional Water Distribution: Based on a Nested Input-Output Model," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 38(3), pages 1027-1043, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:waterr:v:38:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s11269-023-03707-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s11269-023-03707-6
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11269-023-03707-6
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11269-023-03707-6?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chi Zhang & Guoli Wang & Yong Peng & Guolei Tang & Guohua Liang, 2012. "A Negotiation-Based Multi-Objective, Multi-Party Decision-Making Model for Inter-Basin Water Transfer Scheme Optimization," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 26(14), pages 4029-4038, November.
    2. Heran Zheng & Jing Meng & Zhifu Mi & Malin Song & Yuli Shan & Jiamin Ou & Dabo Guan, 2019. "Linking city‐level input–output table to urban energy footprint: Construction framework and application," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 23(4), pages 781-795, August.
    3. Erik Dietzenbacher & Bart Los, 1998. "Structural Decomposition Techniques: Sense and Sensitivity," Economic Systems Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(4), pages 307-324.
    4. Yichu Wang & Xiabin Chen & Alistair G. L. Borthwick & Tianhong Li & Huaihan Liu & Shengfa Yang & Chunmiao Zheng & Jianhua Xu & Jinren Ni, 2020. "Sustainability of global Golden Inland Waterways," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    5. Zhanqi Wang & Jun Yang & Xiangzheng Deng & Xi Lan, 2015. "Optimal Water Resources Allocation under the Constraint of Land Use in the Heihe River Basin of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-18, February.
    6. Xie, Xiaomin & Jiang, Xiaoyun & Zhang, Tingting & Huang, Zhen, 2019. "Regional water footprints assessment for hydroelectricity generation in China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 316-325.
    7. Zhang, Yiyi & Fang, Jiake & Wang, Saige & Yao, Huilu, 2020. "Energy-water nexus in electricity trade network: A case study of interprovincial electricity trade in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yiyi Zhang & Shengren Hou & Jiefeng Liu & Hanbo Zheng & Jiaqi Wang & Chaohai Zhang, 2020. "Evolution of Virtual Water Transfers in China’s Provincial Grids and Its Driving Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-19, January.
    2. Nishijima, Daisuke, 2017. "The role of technology, product lifetime, and energy efficiency in climate mitigation: A case study of air conditioners in Japan," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 340-347.
    3. Jesper Stage, 2002. "Structural Shifts In Namibian Energy Use: An Input‐Output Approach," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 70(6), pages 1103-1125, September.
    4. Xie, Rui & Wang, Fangfang & Chevallier, Julien & Zhu, Bangzhu & Zhao, Guomei, 2018. "Supply-side structural effects of air pollutant emissions in China: A comparative analysis," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 89-95.
    5. Pan, Yue & Chai, Jian & Tian, Lingyue & Zhang, Xiaokong & Wang, Jiaoyan, 2024. "Regional inequality in China's electricity trade," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    6. Erik Dietzenbacher & Jesper Stage, 2006. "Mixing oil and water? Using hybrid input-output tables in a Structural decomposition analysis," Economic Systems Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(1), pages 85-95.
    7. Ling Yang & Michael L. Lahr, 2019. "The Drivers of China’s Regional Carbon Emission Change—A Structural Decomposition Analysis from 1997 to 2007," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-18, June.
    8. Krarti, Moncef & Aldubyan, Mohammad, 2021. "Mitigation analysis of water consumption for power generation and air conditioning of residential buildings: Case study of Saudi Arabia," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
    9. Rosa Duarte & Vicente Pinilla & Ana Serrano, 2015. "Global water in a global world a long term study on agricultural virtual water flows in the world," Documentos de Trabajo dt2015-03, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Universidad de Zaragoza.
    10. Mohlin, Kristina & Camuzeaux, Jonathan R. & Muller, Adrian & Schneider, Marius & Wagner, Gernot, 2018. "Factoring in the forgotten role of renewables in CO2 emission trends using decomposition analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 290-296.
    11. Arne J. Nagengast & Robert Stehrer, 2016. "Accounting for the Differences Between Gross and Value Added Trade Balances," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(9), pages 1276-1306, September.
    12. Zhai, Yijie & Ma, Xiaotian & Gao, Feng & Zhang, Tianzuo & Hong, Jinglan & Zhang, Xu & Yuan, Xueliang & Li, Xiangzhi, 2020. "Is energy the key to pursuing clean air and water at the city level? A case study of Jinan City, China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    13. Roca, Jordi & Serrano, Monica, 2007. "Income growth and atmospheric pollution in Spain: An input-output approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(1), pages 230-242, June.
    14. Butnar, Isabela & Llop, Maria, 2011. "Structural decomposition analysis and input-output subsystems: Changes in CO2 emissions of Spanish service sectors (2000-2005)," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(11), pages 2012-2019, September.
    15. Fernández, Esteban & Fernández, Paula, 2008. "An extension to Sun's decomposition methodology: The Path Based approach," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 30(3), pages 1020-1036, May.
    16. Zhao, Xiaoli & Li, Na & Ma, Chunbo, 2012. "Residential energy consumption in urban China: A decomposition analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 644-653.
    17. Gui, Shusen & Mu, Hailin & Li, Nan, 2014. "Analysis of impact factors on China's CO2 emissions from the view of supply chain paths," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 405-416.
    18. Mark De Haan, 2001. "A Structural Decomposition Analysis of Pollution in the Netherlands," Economic Systems Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(2), pages 181-196.
    19. Li, Jia Shuo & Zhou, H.W. & Meng, Jing & Yang, Q. & Chen, B. & Zhang, Y.Y., 2018. "Carbon emissions and their drivers for a typical urban economy from multiple perspectives: A case analysis for Beijing city," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 1076-1086.
    20. Tian, Kailan & Dietzenbacher, Erik & Yan, Bingqian & Duan, Yuwan, 2020. "Upgrading or downgrading: China's regional carbon emission intensity evolution and its determinants," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:waterr:v:38:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s11269-023-03707-6. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.