Economic Policy Instruments (EPIs) are incentives designed and implemented with the
aim of adapting individual decisions to collectively agreed goals. They include incentive
pricing, trading schemes, cooperation (e.g. payment for environmental services or
voluntary agreements), and risk management schemes. EPIs may significantly improve
an existing policy framework by incentivising, rather than commanding, behavioural
changes that may lead to environmental quality improvements. They can have a
number of additional or ancillary benefits, such as creating a permanent incentive
for technological innovation, stimulating the efficient allocation of water resources,
raising revenues to maintain and upgrade the provision of water services, promoting
water use efficiency, etc.
Launched in January 2011 for a three-year period, EPI-Water project’s (standing for Evaluating Economic Policy Instruments for Sustainable Water Management in Europe) main aim was to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of EPIs in achieving water policy goals. In a first ex-post assessment, the project studied 30 EPIs in Europe and around the world (Australia, Chile, China, Israel and the United States of America). Below are the case studies from this project.
- Gómez, C. M., Delacámara, G., Pérez, C. D., Ibáñez, E., & Solanes, M. (2011). Water transfers in the Tagus River Basin (Spain)
- Gómez, C. M., Delacámara, G., Pérez, C. D., & Rodrígue, M. (2011). Lower Ebro (Spain), Voluntary agreement for river regime restoration services
- Dinar, A. (2011). Water Budget Rate Structure. Experiences from Urban Utilities in California
- Yang, X. (2011). Case Study of China
- CS29 Yates, A. J. (2011). Nitrogen Permit Trading in North Carolina’s
- Donoso Harris, G. (2011). The Chilean Water Allocation
- Viavattene, C., Pardoe, J., McCarthy, S., & Green, C. (2011). Cooperative agreements between water supply companies and farmers in Dorset
- Branth Pedersen, A., Ørsted Nielsen, H., & Skou Andersen, M. (2011). The Danish Pesticide Tax
- Ungvári, G., Kaderják, P., Mezősi, A., & Kiss, A. (2011). Water Resource Fee – Hungary
- Rákosi, J., Ungvári, G., Mezősi, A., Kelemen, L., & Kaderják, P. (2011). Water load fee, Hungary
- Sardonini, L., Viaggi, D., & Raggi, M. (2011). Water tariffs in agriculture – Emilia-Romagna case study
- Hernández-Sancho, F., Molinos-Senante, M., & Sala-Garrido, R. (2011). Increase in the pollution charge at Serpis River Basin
- Hernández-Sancho, F. Molinos-Senante, M., & Sala-Garrido, R. (2011a). Negotiation and monetary incentives to promote the use of reclaimed water at Tordera River Basin
- Hernández-Sancho, F. Molinos-Senante, M., & Sala-Garrido, R. (2011b). Voluntary intersectoral water transfer at Llobregat River Basin
- Schuerhoff, M., Weikard, H. P., & Zetland, D. (2011). Groundwater taxes in the Netherlands.
- Zetland, D., & Weikard, H. P. (2011). Payment by the drop, The move to water metering in England and Wales
- Möller-Gulland, J., & Lago, M. (2011). Water Abstraction Charges and Compensation Payments in Baden-Württemberg (Germany)
- Möller-Gulland, J., McGlade, K., & Lago, M. (2011). Effluent Tax in Germany
- Dworak, T. (2011). Green Hydropower in Switzerland
- Mysiak, J., Farinosi, F., Carrera, L., Testella, F., Breil, M., & Massaruto, A. (2011b). Water tariff system in Italy and tariff structure in the Region Emilia Romagna (RER)
- Mysiak, J., Farinosi, F., Carrera, L., Testella, F., Breil, M., & Massaruto, A. (2011). Green energy certificates and compliance market
- Mattheiß, V. (2011). Subsidies for ecologically friendly hydro-power plants through favourable electricity remuneration in Germany
- Defrance, P. (2011). Financial compensation for environmental services. the case of Evian Natural Mineral Water
- Kossida, M., & Tekidou, A. (2011). Subsidies for Drinking Water Conservation in Cyprus. Report of the EPI-WATER project
- Ancev, T. (2011). Salinity offset in Australia
- Howe, C. W. (2011). The Efficient Water Market of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Colorado, USA
- Young, M. (2011). The role of the Unbundling water rights in Australia’s Southern Connected Murray Darling Basin
- Kan, I., & Kislev, Y. (2011). Urban Water Price Setting under Central Administration
- Kieser, M., & McCarthy, J. L. (2011). Miami River Watershed Water Quality Credit Trading Program
- Kousky, C. (2011). New York City Watershed Agricultural Program