Resources Science ›› 2019, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (1): 98-112.

• Orginal Article •

### Study on the improvement path of water resource utilization efficiency from the perspective of public products

Junpeng LI1(), Fengyi ZHENG2, Zhongchao FENG1()

1. 1. College of Economics & Management, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China;
2. School of Economics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
• Received:2018-08-04 Online:2019-01-25 Published:2019-01-25

Abstract:

Based on the variable capital depreciation rate (capital depreciation rate changes with time, space, and specific infrastructure) and the SBM model considering unsatisfactory output, the capital stock and water resource utilization efficiency of China's inter-provincial water conservancy facilities were estimated in this study. On the basis of controlling variable such as the structure of water resources utilization and government regulation, this paper implemented a Tobit Spatial Dobbin Econometric Model (Tobit-SDM) to analyze the provincial panel data of China from 2002 to 2016 and explore the spatial impact (direct influence and spillover effect) of water conservancy facilities on water resources utilization efficiency. It is found that: (1) the impact of water conservancy facilities on water resources utilization efficiency was obviously lagging behind, and it exhibited an "inverted U type". (2) the level of water conservancy facilities in China is still on the left side of the "inverted u-shaped" curve, i. e. , water conservancy facilities improve the allocation efficiency of water resources among regions, reduce the unsatisfactory output of water resources utilization, and improve the utilization efficiency of water resources in the local region and other regions. In other words, the impact of water conservancy facilities demonstrates a significant positive direct influence and spillover effect. Based on the conclusions above, it is believed that the construction of regional water conservancy facilities needs to be placed in a broader perspective, to achieve the support and coordination of regional construction, to avoid duplication or excessive investment and construction, and to make full use of the spillover effects of water conservancy facilities. In addition, it is also a feasible measure to optimize the industrial allocation and realize the rational allocation of water resources to promote the endogenous growth of water use efficiency.