Balancing Efficiency and Inequality in a Non-Linear Multi-Regional Water Allocation Optimization Model

Accounting for green and blue water resources, this study determines the optimal allocation of water between economic sectors under varying drought circumstances, applying non-linear optimization in a multi-regional input-output modeling framework. The results are compared to the regulated reallocat...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Iban Ortuzar Fernández, Iban, Serrano González, Ana, Xabadia i Palmada, Àngels, Brouwer, Roy
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:10256/26286
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10256/26286
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Aigua -- Distribució -- Aspectes econòmics
Water -- Distribution -- Economic aspects
Sequeres
Droughts
Descripción
Sumario:Accounting for green and blue water resources, this study determines the optimal allocation of water between economic sectors under varying drought circumstances, applying non-linear optimization in a multi-regional input-output modeling framework. The results are compared to the regulated reallocation of water under existing regional drought warning and emergency plans. The analysis reveals that substantial economic gains can be achieved when considering efficiency in inter-sectoral water reallocation policies, mitigating value added losses. However, such optimal water allocation leads to greater inequality compared to the current drought policy measures. Extending the model and combining efficiency and equality concerns yields a production possibility frontier for second-best allocations that accounts for the distributional impacts of water reallocations under droughts. Notably, our findings demonstrate that there is potential for a more efficient distribution that is equal to the distributional impacts under the existing drought warning and emergency plans at lower total economic resource scarcity costs