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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | The need to pay for services in the rural water sector |
Author: | Schur, M.A. |
Year: | 1994 |
Periodical: | South African Journal of Economics |
Volume: | 62 |
Issue: | 4 |
Pages: | 419-431 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | South Africa |
Subjects: | consumer prices water supply |
External link: | https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1813-6982.1994.tb01237.x |
Abstract: | The introduction of user charges in the water sector has been the most consistent policy prescription to emanate from the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade 1980-1990. This article examines the need to pay for services in the rural water sector. In the first section the key components of the cost recovery argument, largely influenced by World Bank publications on the water sector in developing countries, are set out. In addition, this section examines cost recovery practice in a South African context. Section 2 exposes the inconsistencies in the argument for user charges, paying attention to, amongst others, the basic need versus scarce resources argument, the relation between cost recovery and coverage levels, and the numerous constraints which hamper the potential for cost recovery in the rural water sector. In section 3 the article concludes with some policy recommendations for South Africa. Bibliogr., notes, ref. |