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Drivers of Price and Nonprice Water Conservation by Urban and Rural Water Utilities: An Application of Predictive Models to Four Southern States

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 January 2015

Christopher N. Boyer ,
Damian C. Adams  and
Tatiana Borisova
Christopher N. Boyer
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
Damian C. Adams
Affiliation:
School of Forest Resources and Conservation and Food and Resource Economics Department at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Tatiana Borisova
Affiliation:
Food and Resource Economics Department at the, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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Abstract

This study examines water system characteristics, managers' attitudes and perceptions toward water conservation, and future planning strategies that influence the adoption of water conservation programs for urban and rural communities. We surveyed water system managers in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Florida; and we parameterized predictive adoption models for price-based (PC) and nonprice-based (NPC) conservation programs. Notably, results suggest that information about the price elasticity of water demand for a community does encourage PC and NPC adoption; and we found no evidence that PC and NPC adoption is jointly considered by water systems.

Keywords

predictive modelssouthern USwater conservationwater system managersQ24Q30Q50
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics , Volume 46 , Issue 1 , February 2014 , pp. 41 - 56
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 2014

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