Date of Award:

5-2015

Document Type:

Dissertation

Degree Name:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department:

Applied Economics

Committee Chair(s)

Charles Sims (Committee Co-Chair), Arthur Caplan (Committee Co-Chair)

Committee

Charles Sims

Committee

Arthur Caplan

Committee

Donald Snyder

Committee

Man-Keun Kim

Committee

Sarah Null

Abstract

This dissertation is made up of three separate studies under the unifying theme of “Water Decision-Making under Uncertainty.” The first study analyzed a farmer’s decision to invest in a more efficient irrigation system given uncertainty about future water supplies and his post-investment efficiency. It found the price at which farmers would no longer produce to be a bigger consideration in irrigation investment than previously thought. It also found support for a careful identification and consideration of all significant sources of uncertainty in order to create better policy incentives for irrigation technology investments.

The second study extended the first to allow the farmer to gradually update his irrigation system rather than undertake a single, complete overhaul. It found that giving the farmer this option, has significant impact and potential with regards to investments meant to effect behavioral change for improved system outcomes such as more efficient irrigation systems towards regional water conservation goals.

The third and final chapter established a spatially explicit hydroeconomic model of water-use behavior in the Cache Valley of Utah to evaluate the impact of individual decisions, actions and interactions on available water supplies, and whether and how a water master’s privileged information about the behavior of users in his system may be used to improve system outcomes for users in the canal, downstream water requirements and storm-water management.

Checksum

1a27842fbf80f188df1db6afa9612793

Download

Share

COinS

Copyright for this work is retained by the student. If you have any questions regarding the inclusion of this work in the Digital Commons, please email us at .