THE ENHANCED ROLE OF WATER CONSERVATION IN THE COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF WATER PROJECTS1

The concept of water conservation has increased in importance because of revisions in the rules and procedures for performing cost-benefit analyses of federal water projects. These revisions include a requirement that nonstructural and water conservation measures be incorporated into economic assessments of projects. Project analyses will now proceed as if water supplies were allocated “most effectively,” that is, to their highest valued uses. A related requirement provides that the net benefits of any project should now be valued using willingness to pay measures. A specific cost-benefit methodology accommodating the revisions is constructed and discussed. Informational requirements for applying this methodology are identified. In addition to being consistent with federal mandates, this technique offers important advantages over the traditional “requirements” approach to water supply planning.     

PRICING IRRIGATION WATER IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES1

ABSTRACT Alternative combinations of water pricing and regulations are possible in allocating irrigation water. The best combination will depend on the value of water, ability to control deliveries, desire to subsidize agriculture, ownership traditions, crops grown, return flows, drainage problems, staff training, ability to collect fees, the number of farmers involved, etc. Marginal cost pricing is just one possible alternative and it is more a way of thinking about prices rather than a set system. The possibilities for achieving an equitable and efficient distribution of water are improved if some form of marginal cost pricing is included in the system of water charges.     

环境监理专业发展探讨与实践

环境监理专业是原国家环保局和中国环境管理干部学院共同创建。经过8年的发展完善,已经是中国环境管理干部学院的主要专业。在学院转轨,高校扩招的新形势下,面临学生来源和学生自主就业的新变化,本文对环境监理专业的专业方向、高职教学特点、加强理论与实践的结合等方面进行了深入的研究和探讨。     

浅析存款业务创新

从技术角度来探讨银行的存款业务创新，提出商业银行应该考虑经济发展情况、金融文化背景等因素，以满足客户的需求为目的来设计、组织存款要素，并在市场细分的基础上，提供差别化存款产品，按市场规律进行定价。     

Residential Water Demand Management: Lessons from Aurora,Colorado1

Abstract: Residential water demand is a function of several factors, some of which are within the control of water utilities (e.g., price, water restrictions, rebate programs) and some of which are not (e.g., climate and weather, demographic characteristics). In this study of Aurora, Colorado, factors influencing residential water demand are reviewed during a turbulent drought period (2000‐2005). Findings expand the understanding of residential demand in at least three salient ways: first, by documenting that pricing and outdoor water restriction policies interact with each other ensuring that total water savings are not additive of each program operating independently; second, by showing that the effectiveness of pricing and restrictions policies varies among different classes of customers (i.e., low, middle, and high volume water users) and between predrought and drought periods; and third, in demonstrating that real‐time information about consumptive use (via the Water Smart Reader) helps customers reach water‐use targets.     

中国世界遗产地与国家级风景名胜区门票价格定位研究

世界遗产地和国家级风景名胜区是一种保护性资源而不是开发性资源，其经营目标应该是增进社会福利。这种性质决定了它的经营目标和主体，而门票价格的高低最能体现出该类产品是否具有公益性特征。本文根据世界遗产和国家级风景区的性质。应用资源经济学与旅游经济学的原理，构建理论模型，结合具体案例进行实证研究来说明门票价格定位的依据、条件和目标。并希望通过合理的价格定位来实现消费者剩余最大化和提高社会整体经济福利。     

环境和自然资源的价值评估与价值实现

围绕如何发挥价值规律作用推动自然资源合理配置的问题，构建了从价值理论到评估方法到价值实现过程的分析思路。剖析了环境和自然资源价值本质和价值形成机制的特殊性，并以价值评估问题为重点，分析各种价值度量方法所揭示的价值内容、对价值实现的支持和局限，最后从政府决策的角度讨论了通过价值评估将环境和自然资源价值纳入经济过程的动力机制。认为：自然资源价值本质和内涵的独特性，决定了价值评估和实现过程的特殊性。人类能否将环境价值完整地表达出来，受到评价方法和人类对效用和稀缺性等认知能力的局限，尽管每一种价值评价方法所揭示的价值内涵是有所差异的，但到目前为止，这些方法仍是评价环境及自然资源价值的最佳可得的方法。     

关于我国水价、水权和水市场改革的评论

在市场经济条件下，如何让市场在水资源配置领域发挥作用，是水管理改革面临的重要问题。引入经济手段管理水资源。已经成为当代中国水管理改革的重要内容。水资源管理的经济手段主要包括水价、水权和水市场，本文逐一对兰个方面的改革进展进行回顾和评价，揭示我国水价、水权和水市场的制度变迁轨迹。随着我国水价和水权制度的推进，水权市场的事例会越来越多涌现。尽管水市场在长期将有较大的发展。但是由于水市场线入涉及到一系列复杂的经济、社会和生态问题。决定了短期内水市场的发展空间相对有限。     

THE ADOPTION OF MUNICIPAL WATER CONSERVATION: AN UNLIKELY EVENT?1

ABSTRACT: It is contended that water conservation measures that reduce a water system's net revenues are unlikely to be adopted. Pricing policies that induce conservation can be designed to increase net revenues. Management practices that lead to conservation and pure conservation measures may reduce net revenues; consequently, they are unlikely to be adopted. Recent experience in five southwestern cities supports these contentions. It is argued that the managers of a municipal water enterprise are particularly sensitive to short term variation in revenues. Consequently, to increase the likelihood of the adoption of measures that reduce net revenues it is necessary to remove either the decision to adopt measures that reduce net revenue or the adverse revenue effect from the water enterprise. Finally, to make higher rates for conservation palatable, imaginative use for the funds generated must be developed.     

INCOME AND PRICE ELASTICITIES OF DEMAND FOR WATER IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES1

ABSTRACT: The income and proce elasticity of demand for domestic water is estimated for Penang Island, Malaysia. A cross-sectional analysis of a random sample of 1400 households indicated an income-elasticity of zero for low-income families (per capita income less than US$300) and an elasticity of 0.2-0.4 for higher-income families. A time-series analysis of a subsample of individuals of varying income levels suggests a short-run price elasticity of -0.1 to -0.2. The implications of these results for demand forecasting are discussed.