vbid/9789811050831

Description

This�book�presents a model for describing the hierarchical concept of China�s water rights structure, one which takes into account pioneering theories on natural resources and environmental institutional economics. It highlights the basic theory of water rights, with a view to helping Chinese policymakers acquire a deeper understanding of water rights and the need for a reform program in the long-term development of water-poor China. To do so, it draws on three main sources: Cheung SNS�s �Economic Explanation�, Douglas C. North�s �New Economic History� and Ray Huang�s �Macro History�. The�book�makes two essential contributions: it elaborates the hierarchical water governance structure in China, which originated in the Qin Dynasty that unified the country 2000 years ago and has been employed without interruption ever since; further, it constructs a choice model for water governance structures and advances the logic of making structural choices with minimum transaction costs under constraint conditions, while also explaining the inherent nature of China�s choice for the hierarchical structure�from the perspectives of management cost and cooperation cost. As such, the�book�enriches and builds on the theories of the �water governance� school represented by Karl Marx, Karl Wittfogel and Ray Huang, laying the foundation for the further study of water rights theory in contemporary China.Typham this is the title: Assessing Water Rights in China