Defining the components of fairness in the allocation of water to environmental and human uses

Water Management and the Procedural Turn: Norms and Transitions in Alberta

“…Those with legally entrenched water rights, for instance, hold more power than those who do not. Studies by social psychologists suggest that achieving agreement regarding what constitutes "fairness" is possible (Syme and Nancarrow 1996;Syme et al 1999). But what remains elusive is the transition itself -a way of incorporating new norms and decision criteria, such as those for instream flow requirements (Postel and Richter 2003;Wescoat and White 2003).…”

A critical review of the concept of equity to support water allocation at various scales in the Amu Darya basin

“…The third argument that there is no sensible theory about it -thus it fails to exist in an academic sense. (in Syme et al 1999). …”

“…Proportionality implies that resources should be distributed according to people's effort or 'deservedness'. Egalitarianism suggests that everyone should be treated equally (Syme et al 1999). On a similar line, Waters (2000) distinguishes between vertical and horizontal equity in the welfare system.…”

“…Again, when it comes down to the different aspects of equity there seems to be a very different perspective on procedural justice. Using Rasinski (1987) Syme et al (1999) argue that "people subscribing to the proportionality view of equity would tend to be more concerned with procedural justice issues when judging the fairness of government allocations than would those with an egalitarian viewpoint". They conclude, that "procedural justice alone might not be a sufficient criterion for perceptions of just decision-making".…”

“…To make the whole debate even more complicated, Syme et al (1999) argue that fairness principles are applied differently at the universal (agreement with prior rights in general) and situational (priorities for existing local irrigators) levels. Based on different case studies, they deter that "when personal income and livelihood are affected, issues such as the public good, procedural justice and environmental rights tend to take the 'back seat'".…”