Distributive Preferences and Fair Water Sharing Among Farmers in India

Using an experimental setting inspired by the empirical social choice literature, we analyze how Indian farmers define fair water allocation. We investigate the choices of 240 Indian farmers who — as a neutral third-party — are asked to make water allocation decisions in situations that differ, such as the agricultural area in which each farmer grows crops, the responsibilities of farmers in each agricultural area, and the nature of their water resource (lake versus river). Our findings highlight the impact of contextual variables: respondents tend to endorse equal water distribution when farmers have identical land sizes but lean toward proportional allocation when differences in land size exist. However, this inclination toward proportional allocation diminishes when discrepancies in land size result from farmers’ own decisions rather than external factors. Additionally, we uncover indications of a link between farmers’ inclinations toward pro-social behavior and their preference for proportional allocation.