Willingness to pay for water: The international debates

The objective in this paper is to furnish a critical analysis of international research concerning the question of ''willingness to pay'' for water. The majority of existing international studies derives from research work either sponsored by or linked to the World Bank or other development agencies. The paper is divided into four sections of material. First, the significance of understanding ''willingness to pay'' is emphasised, particularly in terms of the planning of water projects. In the second section, the focus turns to a review of the contributions and validity of rapid reconnaissance surveys concerning informal water vending. In the third section the methodology and findings are reviewed of the cutting edge of ''willingness to pay'' research, namely contingent valuation studies. The final section draws together key conclusions and findings.