Community Values In Southwest Water Management

This paper challenges the applicability of the policy framework, labeled the new resource economics, to Western water management, particularly as applied to two examples examined in the paper: the Papago Tribe in South Central Arizona, and Hispanic villages along the Upper Rio Grande River. Contrary to the assumptions of new resource cconomics, water is regarded by these communities not just as an economic commodity but as a special resource closely related to community values. The paper concludes that should policy prescriptions of the new resource economics framework be adopted, community control over resources and the maintenance of traditional values would be eroded. The political system for all its shortcomings serves these communities better than pure market allocation of water. Copyright 1985 by The Policy Studies Organization.