China’s water crisis to test “decisive” markets 11 Apr 2014 China’s urban water bills are rising. It’s a nod towards curbing overuse, but too little to defuse a brewing crisis. A real fix requires market prices for thirsty industrials and agriculture. This will be a trial by water for the country’s supposed market reforms.
Two cheers for Israel’s tri-state water deal 27 Dec 2013 Tel Aviv will share more with Jordan and Palestine. Such regional agreements are crucial where water is scarce. Properly irrigated farmland could boost Palestine’s economy by a fifth. Israel, though, is only giving up a token amount and remains in control. At least it’s a start.
Ethiopia’s Nile plan emblem of global water woes 9 Jul 2013 A dam to export hydroelectric power looks at odds with IMF hopes for more competition. Egypt’s bellicose threats are wrongheaded, too. Obscured by the rhetoric are longer-term concerns about how nations can sensibly grow their economies when water’s a scarce or shared resource.
NIMBYs are China’s new neighbours from hell 31 Jul 2012 Communities protesting about dirty chemical plants or waste treatment are a rich-country problem come early. Their gripes may be understandable: China faces hefty environmental risks. But appeasing rattled townsfolk drags on growth by lowering the returns from building.