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Decentralization and redistribution : irrigation reform in Pakistan's Indus basin

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  • Jacoby,Hanan G.
  • Mansuri,Ghazala
  • Fatima,Freeha

Abstract

Does decentralizing the allocation of public resources reduce rent-seeking and improve equity? This paper studies a governance reform in Pakistan's vast Indus Basin irrigation system. Using canal discharge measurements across all of Punjab province, the analysis finds that water theft increased on channels taken over by local farmer organizations compared with channels that remained bureaucratically managed, leading to substantial wealth redistribution. The increase in water theft was greater along channels with larger landowners situated upstream. These findings are consistent with a model in which decentralization accentuates the political power of local elites by shifting the arena in which water rights are contested.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacoby,Hanan G. & Mansuri,Ghazala & Fatima,Freeha, 2018. "Decentralization and redistribution : irrigation reform in Pakistan's Indus basin," Policy Research Working Paper Series 8352, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:8352
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    File URL: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/219061519221201138/pdf/WPS8352.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Yousaf, Wasif & Awan, Wakas Karim & Kamran, Muhammad & Ahmad, Sajid Rashid & Bodla, Habib Ullah & Riaz, Mohammad & Umar, Muhammad & Chohan, Khurram, 2021. "A paradigm of GIS and remote sensing for crop water deficit assessment in near real time to improve irrigation distribution plan," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    2. Muhammad Arfan, 2022. "Mapping Impact of Farmer’s Organisation on the Equity of Water and Land Productivity: Evidence from Pakistan (Article)," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 61(2), pages 275-294.
    3. Nadeem Ul Haque & Faheem Jehangir Khan (ed.), 2022. "RASTA Local Research, Local Solutions: Political Economy Of Development Reform, Volume VI," PIDE Books, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, number 2022:6, December.
    4. Ali, Sameen A. Mohsin, 2020. "Driving participatory reforms into the ground: The bureaucratic politics of irrigation management transfer in Pakistan," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).

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