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Unfolding the potential of the Virtual Water concept. What is still under debate?

Author

Listed:
  • Antonelli, Marta
  • Sartori, Martina
Abstract
The concept of virtual water refers to the volume of water used in the production of a commodity or a service. The concept was identified by the geographer Tony Allan in the early 1990s, to draw attention on the global economic processes that ameliorate local water deficits in the MENA region and elsewhere. Since its inception, the virtual water concept has inspired a flourishing literature on how to address global water resource scarcity vis-à-vis commodity production and consumption in a variety of disciplines, but also has been the object of a number of critiques. Against this backdrop, the aim of the study is, first, to conduct a thorough review of the conceptual definition of the concept, its critics and applications. Secondly, to analyse its theoretical underpinnings and, in particular, its relationship with economic theory. The study argues that, despite not being a policy tool itself, the virtual water concept can reveal aspects related to production, consumption and trade in goods which monetary indicators do not capture. Its potential as an indicator for informing decision-making in water management and policy, as well as commodity trade policy, still has to be fully unfolded.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonelli, Marta & Sartori, Martina, 2014. "Unfolding the potential of the Virtual Water concept. What is still under debate?," MPRA Paper 60501, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:60501
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    2. Pier Paolo Miglietta & Domenico Morrone & Federica De Leo, 2018. "The Water Footprint Assessment of Electricity Production: An Overview of the Economic-Water-Energy Nexus in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-14, January.
    3. Mohamad Afkhami & Thomas Bassetti & Hamed Ghoddusi & Filippo Pavesi, 2018. "Virtual Water Trade: The Implications of Capital Scarcity," Working Papers 03/2018, University of Verona, Department of Economics.
    4. Sartori, Martina & Schiavo, Stefano, 2015. "Connected we stand: A network perspective on trade and global food security," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 114-127.
    5. Arjen Y. Hoekstra, 2017. "Water Footprint Assessment: Evolvement of a New Research Field," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 31(10), pages 3061-3081, August.
    6. Giovanni Pino & Pierluigi Toma & Cristian Rizzo & Pier Paolo Miglietta & Alessandro M. Peluso & Gianluigi Guido, 2017. "Determinants of Farmers’ Intention to Adopt Water Saving Measures: Evidence from Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-14, January.
    7. Angela Cheptea & Catherine Laroche-Dupraz, 2019. "Is irrigation driven by the economic value of internationally traded agricultural products?," Working Papers hal-02154603, HAL.
    8. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/4krkv5tkmp871q08f5rv2n43tn is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Andrea Fracasso & Martina Sartori & Stefano Schiavo, 2014. "Determinants of Virtual Water Flows in the Mediterranean," IEFE Working Papers 75, IEFE, Center for Research on Energy and Environmental Economics and Policy, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy.
    10. Angela Cheptea & Catherine Laroche-Dupraz, 2018. "The water productivity of internationally traded agricultural products," Post-Print hal-01964295, HAL.
    11. Soheila Zareie & Omid Bozorg-Haddad & Hugo A. Loáiciga, 2021. "A state-of-the-art review of water diplomacy," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 2337-2357, February.
    12. Ankai Xu, 2018. "Trade in Virtual Water: Do Property Rights Matter?," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 32(8), pages 2585-2609, June.
    13. Andrea Fracasso & Massimo Riccaboni & Martina Sartori & Stefano Schiavo, 2017. "Modeling the future evolution of the virtual water trade network," Sciences Po publications info:hdl:2441/4krkv5tkmp8, Sciences Po.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    virtual water; water footprint; green and blue water; water scarcity and security; water policy; international trade;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F18 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Environment
    • Q25 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Water
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth

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