Size and stochasticity in irrigated social-ecological systems.

ABSTRACT: This paper presents a systematic study of the relation between the size of irrigation systems and the management of uncertainty. We specifically focus on studying, through a stylized theoretical model, how stochasticity in water availability and taxation interacts with the stochastic behavior of the population within irrigation systems. Our results indicate the existence of two key population thresholds for the sustainability of any irrigation system: or the critical population size required to keep the irrigation system operative, and N* or the population threshold at which the incentive to work inside the irrigation system equals the incentives to work elsewhere. Crossing irretrievably leads to system collapse. N* is the population level with a sub-optimal per capita payoff towards which

SUBMITTER: Puy A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5339736 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature