Water Markets and Economic Value 

Scarcity begets trade, which begets markets. Where institutions allowed it and transaction costs were not excessive, the growing scarcity of water in the western U.S. has often brought willing buyers and sellers together in what is called a water market. Water markets offer valuable information about the value of water. However, water markets differ markedly from one location to another, so that prices determined in such markets must be interpreted in light of the characteristics of the specific markets. This project aims to learn more about water markets and their water prices as a means to better understand the value of water leaving the public lands.