Governance of the Water Supply Systems in the Palestinian Territories: A Data Envelopment Analysis Approach to the Management of Water Resources

34 Pages Posted: 15 Aug 2008 Last revised: 31 Dec 2018

See all articles by Kamal A. Alsharif

Kamal A. Alsharif

University of South Florida

Ehsan H. Feroz

University of Washington Tacoma, Milgard School of Business-Accounting ; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Government of the United States of America - US GAO Advisory Council; University of Minnesota Duluth, Labovitz School of Business-Department of Accounting; University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management-Department of Accounting; American Accounting Association

Andrew Klemer

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Raymond L. Raab

University of Minnesota, Duluth - Labovitz School of Business and Economics (LSBE)

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the governance efficiencies of the water supply systems by applying data envelopment analysis (DEA) to 33 Palestinian municipalities. We demonstrate that DEA can be a useful tool to assess the relative efficiencies of water supply systems and to establish benchmarks with which to measure progress in the management of water resources. Frontier estimation models measure the efficiency of water use in the Palestinian Territories (West Bank and the Gaza Strip). At the municipality level, sufficient data for the years 1999-2002 were available to estimate efficiency and stability scores. The Gaza Strip efficiency scores were considerably lower than those of the West Bank. Water losses were the major source of the inefficiency as indicated by the large slacks of this input. The relative size of the municipalities did not affect efficiency scores as much. Palestinian policy makers should focus on rebuilding the infrastructure of the water networks, beginning with the most inefficient municipalities in order to minimize water losses. We document that water shortage crisis can be alleviated by improvements in the management of domestic water sector. The needs for improvement in water network infrastructure are assessed to aid water management decisions. The evaluation of water use efficiency factors allow policy makers to monitor improvement programs and to make better management decisions. Even more importantly, the alleviation of water supply crisis will improve the prospects for a peaceful settlement of other issues involving the Palestinian territories. Gestures by the Israeli and the Palestinian authorities toward political stability can also stimulate more progressive and enlightened water management policies. Rather than being perceived as an obstacle to progress and permanent peace, solutions to these problems can help motivate broader commonalities of interest.

Keywords: Governance, Water resources, DEA, Benchmarking, Global warming, Palestine, Political Economy, Environmental Management

JEL Classification: C44, C61, C67, D24, D57, D61, E23, G18, H10, H51,L30, L51, M41, 010, O47, Q20, Q25

Suggested Citation

Alsharif, Kamal A. and Feroz, Ehsan H. and Klemer, Andrew and Raab, Raymond L., Governance of the Water Supply Systems in the Palestinian Territories: A Data Envelopment Analysis Approach to the Management of Water Resources. Journal of Environmental Management, Vol. 87, pp. 80-94, 2008, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1227883

Kamal A. Alsharif (Contact Author)

University of South Florida ( email )

Tampa, FL 33620
United States

Ehsan H. Feroz

University of Washington Tacoma, Milgard School of Business-Accounting ( email )

1900 Commerce Street, Campus Box 358420
Tacoma, WA 98402-3100
United States
(253) 692 4728 (Phone)
253 692 4523 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.tacoma.washington.edu/business

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ( email )

515 East Gregory Drive# 2307
Champaign, IL 61820
United States

Government of the United States of America - US GAO Advisory Council ( email )

441 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20548-0001
United States

University of Minnesota Duluth, Labovitz School of Business-Department of Accounting ( email )

10 University Drive
Labovitz School of Business
Duluth, MN 55812
United States
218-726-6988 (Phone)
218-726-8510 (Fax)

University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management-Department of Accounting ( email )

420 Delaware St. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
United States

American Accounting Association ( email )

5717 Bessie Drive
Sarasota, FL 34233-2399
United States

Andrew Klemer

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

Raymond L. Raab

University of Minnesota, Duluth - Labovitz School of Business and Economics (LSBE) ( email )

412 Library Drive
Duluth, MN 55812-3029
United States

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