Aquanomics: Water Markets and the Environment

Yasmin Valdez  | 07 de noviembre de 2018  | Vistas: 64

What would you do if the right to use water was taken away from you? Randy Simmons presents the history of water property rights in the United States and relates it to the government, political issues and regulations.

He starts sharing how people faced the problem of moving from one place to another and the way the introduction of trains, made it necessary to create rules. Also, the way water property rights were constructed and the different methods developed to distribute this resource.

The main concern is that legislation and regulation will see farmers and their rights as old-fashioned and outdated.”

Simmons compares water markets vs. regulatory controls to explain the conflict with bureaucratic systems, legislation, and regulations. He highlights how this affected the environment causing individuals to make their own deals. Randy continues explaining why creating clear property rights can be helpful as well as counterproductive for the communities.

The fight will continue as long as water is allocated by politics instead of the market.”

Randy shares his perspective on creating markets and rights for water, but also the political predictability issues that came with it. He concludes giving different options to use this resource in an efficient way, were states need to allow market solutions, and finally gives his opinion in the future of water.