WPS6567 Policy Research Working Paper 6567 Public Disclosure Authorized Is Small Better? A Comparison of the Effect of Large and Small Dams Public Disclosure Authorized on Cropland Productivity in South Africa Elodie Blanc Eric Strobl Public Disclosure Authorized The World Bank Public Disclosure Authorized Development Economics Vice Presidency Partnerships, Capacity Building Unit August 2013 Policy Research Working Paper 6567 Abstract This study estimates and compares the effects of small effect on cropland within the vicinity. However, their and large irrigation dams on cropland productivity in existence can enhance the relatively small positive impact South Africa. To this end, a panel data set of South of local small dams. Although a cost-benefit analysis of African river basins is constructed. The econometric irrigation benefits shows that small dams may be more analysis reveals that although large dams increase viable than large ones, large dams can play a potentially cropland productivity downstream, they have a negative important role within a system of both types of dams. This paper is a product of the Partnerships, Capacity Building Unit, Development Economics Vice Presidency. It is part of a larger effort by the World Bank to provide open access to its research and make a contribution to development policy discussions around the world. Policy Research Working Papers are also posted on the Web at http://econ.worldbank.org. The authors may be contacted at is
[email protected]. The Policy Research Working Paper Series disseminates the findings of work in progress to encourage the exchange of ideas about development issues. An objective of the series is to get the findings out quickly, even if the presentations are less than fully polished.