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Abstract
With increasing water scarcity, research on policy options for improved water allocation and
governance becomes an urgent priority for many developing and developed countries.
Evaluating institutional alternatives is however a challenging task. This article takes a
comparative approach and compares case study data from Tunisia and South Africa
highlighting the importance of the water rights system for irrigators. Using contingent
valuation methods the benefits for water users of changes in water rights systems are
quantified. In both countries WTP estimates reveal that from the farmers’ perspective
significant improvements can be made to the current water rights systems. This is valuable
information for policy makers to guide institutional reforms.