EXPLORING WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT MECHANISM IN THE MIDDLE AND LOWER REACHES OF THE TARIM BASIN
塔里木河中下游水资源管理机制探讨

Through calculation of price elasticity of water demand for agricultur e in the lower reaches of the Tarim River basin, we find out that the price elas ticity in the study area is tiny.In other words, the water consumption bears lit tle relation to the water price which indicates that market mechanisms do not af fect apparently on water allocation. By cost-benefit analysis, we find that the crops in the area make contribution to water conservation to certain degrees whi le local farmers waste water seriously. In addition, we notice that local farmer s have considerable endurance with present water price owing to the high margina l product of water. So it is feasible to continue the increase of water price. W ater management analysis indicated that there exist "government failtures" of wa t er resource management in the lower reaches of the Tarim River basin. The role o f water saving via crops is due to strict planning and management. However, the local authority has special power of using water because of local protectionism which leads to waste of water. According to such analysis, we draw a conclusion t hat strengthening governmental intervention and getting rid of local protectioni sm are the principal tasks in this area. Meanwhile, some suggestions are given o n water price reform.