Search

In 2014, China officially carried out the pilot work of water trading. The changes in water quality and quantity in pilot and non-pilot areas created a quasi-experimental research environment for policy analysis. The analysis of the impact of water trading policies on the experimental fields of policies and systems can scientifically evaluate the effect of water trading policies and provide reference for the adjustment and improvement of relevant policies. It would further promote the optimization and development of the practice of water trading, which is more conducive to the perfection of the water trading theory with Chinese characteristics. Based on the literature on water trading policies, this study first summarized the impact mechanism of water trading policies on the use of regional water resources. The impact was mainly reflected in two aspects: water quality and quantity. Secondly, the synthetic control method was used to construct the policy effect analysis model. The water footprint was used to represent the water resource consumption in the region, the water quality in the region was measured by the discharge of wastewater and major pollutants in wastewater, and a coupled model of water quality and water quantity was built to calculate the evaluation factors. Last, the provinces with the most representative implementation of water trading policies in the Yellow River basin were selected as research objects to analyze the implementation effect in pilot areas by using the synthetic control method, and the robustness test was carried out. The results showed that after implementing the water trade policies in 2014, the situation of water quality and quality significantly improved in Gansu, Ningxia, and Inner Mongolia. However, due to the differences in the practice of water trading, regional economic development mode and policy implementation, the improvement of water quality and water quantity in the three provinces was also different. This research concluded that although the impact effect of water trading policies varied in different regions, the positive impact of policy implementation was beyond doubt. It is proposed that all provinces should actively learn from relevant experience and conduct practical exploration of water trading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Victoria is the earliest state to establish water rights system in Australia, in which water markets have been fully developed in last three decades. China is currently in the period of deepening its reform of water rights, the advanced Victorian experiences could provide significant guidance for water rights reform and water markets growth in China, which ultimately allows markets to play a critical role in water resources reallocation. This paper analyzed the water rights system in Victoria from the aspects of water legal system, water administration, water rights allocation and types, as well as water registration and water markets, and put forward recommendations for China’s water rights reform. The results show that, in order to enhance the sustainability of water use and socioeconomic development, China should further promote research on water trading laws and regulations, establish water property rights, use water price leverage to stimulate market vitality, and rearrange the functions between government and market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]