Economic efficiency of water uses in the Syrian Arab Republic

Abstract

Water is the most important resource on Earth, and access to it is a guaranteed basic human right. Using water without taking into account its real value in use will increases the waste of this vital resource. Water is no longer just an unlimited natural resource, but rather a vital social and economic resource on which economic concepts and tools are applied to contribute to achieving social welfare and maximizing economic returns and using it sustainably.

This research discusses the efficiency of water use in all sectors to maximize the benefits, provide the needs of the most beneficial sectors for society and the state, and achieve food security. Emphasis is placed on economic efficiency as a determinant of water demand management in Syria without compromising the citizen's right to obtain water.

In this research, the economic efficiency of water use was calculated at the national level in Syria, and in each sector separately: the irrigated agriculture sector, the industrial sector, and the service sector, in addition to calculating the water efficiency in employing labor at the national level and in each of the mentioned sectors. Based on the results of the research, some proposals and recommendations were presented to manage the demand of water in the Syrian Arab Republic with high efficiency.