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The Determinants of Residential Water Demand Empirical Evidence for a Panel of Italian Municipalities

Author

Listed:
  • Massimiliano Mazzanti

    (University of Ferrara)

  • Anna Montini

    (University of Bologna and CERIS/DSE-CNR)

Abstract

We present empirical evidence on the determinants of residential water demand for one Italian region, Emilia-Romagna, by using municipal panel data. The estimated water demand price elasticity is negative, showing values between -0.99 and -1.33, never significantly different from one, considering different specifications without and with additional socio-economic factors. Income results associated to a positive elasticity, though lower than one. The role of other socio-economic territory-specific determinants is less relevant, with the exception of altitude. The relative high value of price elasticity is deemed consistent with the higher level of Regional water prices compared to the national average. The applied analysis is an important starting point for the Italian environment, which lacks reliable estimates on elasticities concerning microeconomic water demand studies. The estimation of price elasticity and the investigation on the determinants of water demand are necessary steps for both private and private-public management of water resources within the new framework originating from the implementation of the 96/1994 National water bill.

Suggested Citation

  • Massimiliano Mazzanti & Anna Montini, 2005. "The Determinants of Residential Water Demand Empirical Evidence for a Panel of Italian Municipalities," Working Papers 2005.27, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    • Handle: RePEc:fem:femwpa:2005.27
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    Cited by:

    1. Henrique Monteiro, 2010. "Residential Water Demand in Portugal: checking for efficiency-based justifications for increasing block tariffs," Working Papers Series 1 ercwp0110, ISCTE-IUL, Business Research Unit (BRU-IUL).
    2. Buck, Steven & Nemati, Mehdi & Sunding, David, 2016. "The Welfare Consequences of the 2015 California Drought Mandate: Evidence from New Results on Monthly Water Demand," 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts 236049, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    3. Schleich, Joachim & Hillenbrand, Thomas, 2009. "Determinants of residential water demand in Germany," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(6), pages 1756-1769, April.
    4. Lucia Cecchi & Enrico Conti & Letizia Ravagli, 2022. "The determinants of domestic water demand and the equity of tariffs: Empirical evidence from an Italian municipality," ECONOMIA PUBBLICA, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2022(3), pages 373-395.
    5. Sara Fontdecaba & Pere Grima & Lluís Marco & Lourdes Rodero & José Sánchez-Espigares & Ignasi Solé & Xavier Tort-Martorell & Dominique Demessence & Victor Martínez De Pablo & Jordi Zubelzu, 2012. "A Methodology to Model Water Demand based on the Identification of Homogenous Client Segments. Application to the City of Barcelona," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 26(2), pages 499-516, January.
    6. Bagnoli, Lisa & Pasman, Clara & Serebrisky, Tomás & Solís Sosa, Ben, 2025. "Water for daily life: Estimating basic household water needs in Lima and Quito," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    7. Maria A. García‐Valiñas & Roberto Martínez‐Espiñeira & Francisco González‐Gómez, 2010. "Economics of Water Reform in the Murray-Darling Basin," Centre for Water Economics, Environment and Policy Papers 1005, Centre for Water Economics, Environment and Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University.
    8. Maria A. García-Valiñas & Roberto Martínez-Francisco & González-Gómez, 2010. "Water affordability: alternativem measurement and explanatory Factors in Andalusia," Centre for Water Economics, Environment and Policy Papers 1014, Centre for Water Economics, Environment and Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University.
    9. Seul-Ye Lim & Jeoung-Sik Min & Seung-Hoon Yoo, 2021. "Price and Income Elasticities of Residential Heat Demand from District Heating System: A Price Sensitivity Measurement Experiment in South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-10, June.
    10. Dexter V. L. Hunt & Christopher D. F. Rogers, 2014. "A Benchmarking System for Domestic Water Use," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(5), pages 1-26, May.
    11. Steven Buck & Mehdi Nemati & David Sunding, 2023. "Consumer welfare consequences of the California drought conservation mandate," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 45(1), pages 510-533, March.
    12. Abolhasani, L. & Tajabadi, M. & Shahnoushi Forushahi, N., 2018. "Price elasticity of residential water demand: a Meta analysis of studies on water demand, (case study: Iran)," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 275890, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    13. Renzetti, Steven & Dupont, Diane P. & Chitsinde, Tina, 2015. "An empirical examination of the distributional impacts of water pricing reforms," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 63-69.
    14. Antonio Musolesi & Mario Nosvelli, 2007. "Dynamics of residential water consumption in a panel of Italian municipalities," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(6), pages 441-444.
    15. David Hoyos & Alaitz Artabe, 2017. "Regional Differences in the Price Elasticity of Residential Water Demand in Spain," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 31(3), pages 847-865, February.
    16. Barreira, Ana Paula & Jacinto, Gonçalo, 2025. "Clustered patterns of household water consumption in Portuguese municipalities: Do regional location and population trajectory matter?," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    17. Monia Castellini & Vincenzo Riso, 2023. "Risk Management in Practice: A Multiple Case Study Analysis in Italian Municipalities," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-15, January.
    18. Cullmann, Astrid & Stiel, Caroline, 2022. "Cost and productivity effects of demographic changes on local water service," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 79, pages 1-35.
    19. Giulia Romano & Nicola Salvati & Andrea Guerrini, 2014. "Factors Affecting Water Utility Companies’ Decision to Promote the Reduction of Household Water Consumption," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 28(15), pages 5491-5505, December.
    20. Massarutto, Antonio, 2020. "Servant of too many masters: Residential water pricing and the challenge of sustainability," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    21. Arnaud Reynaud & Giulia Romano, 2018. "Advances in the Economic Analysis of Residential Water Use: An Introduction," Post-Print hal-01948631, HAL.
    22. Yarela Flores Arévalo & Roberto D. Ponce Oliva & Francisco J. Fernández & Felipe Vásquez-Lavin, 2021. "Sensitivity of Water Price Elasticity Estimates to Different Data Aggregation Levels," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 35(6), pages 2039-2052, April.
    23. Cullmann, Astrid & Stiel, Caroline, 2022. "Cost and productivity effects of demographic changes on local water service," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    24. Fercovic, Juan & Foster, William & Melo, Oscar, 2015. "Residential Water Consumption in Chile: Economic Development and Climate Change," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 211631, International Association of Agricultural Economists.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • Q25 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Water

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