TY - JOUR
T1 - Rent-seeking behaviour and regulatory capture in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia
AU - Grafton, Quentin
AU - Williams, John
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - We examine water governance in the Murray-Darling Basin using the frameworks of rent-seeking and regulatory capture. These frameworks are used to evaluate two government programmes intended to ensure an environmentally sustainable level of water diversions in the basin: targeted one-on-one purchases of water entitlements from designated sellers; and subsidies for irrigation infrastructure to increase irrigation efficiency. Deficiencies in delivering the stated environmental goals of both programmes, and questions about their 'value for money', are highlighted. Specific recommendations are provided about how to mitigate both rent-seeking and regulatory capture of water reform initiatives in large river basins.
AB - We examine water governance in the Murray-Darling Basin using the frameworks of rent-seeking and regulatory capture. These frameworks are used to evaluate two government programmes intended to ensure an environmentally sustainable level of water diversions in the basin: targeted one-on-one purchases of water entitlements from designated sellers; and subsidies for irrigation infrastructure to increase irrigation efficiency. Deficiencies in delivering the stated environmental goals of both programmes, and questions about their 'value for money', are highlighted. Specific recommendations are provided about how to mitigate both rent-seeking and regulatory capture of water reform initiatives in large river basins.
U2 - 10.1080/07900627.2019.1674132
DO - 10.1080/07900627.2019.1674132
M3 - Article
VL - 36
SP - 484
EP - 504
JO - International Journal of Water Resources Development
JF - International Journal of Water Resources Development
SN - 0790-0627
IS - 2-3
ER -