Rey, DoloresPérez-Blanco, Carlos DionisioEscriva-Bou, AlvarGirard, CorentinVeldkamp, Ted I. E.2018-01-222018-01-222018-01-19Rey D, Pérez-Blanco CD, Escriva-Bou A, et al., (2019) Role of economic instruments in water allocation reform: lessons from Europe. International Journal of Water Resources Development, Volume 35, Issue 2, 2019, pp. 206-2390790-0627http://doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2017.1422702http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/12918A growing number of countries are reforming their water allocation regimes through the use of economic instruments. This article analyzes the performance of economic instruments in water allocation reforms compared against their original design objectives in five European countries: England, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands. We identify the strengths of, barriers to and unintended consequences of economic instruments in the varying socio-economic, legal, institutional and biophysical context in each case study area, and use this evidence to draw out underlying common guidelines and recommendations. These lessons will help improve the effectiveness of future reforms while supporting more efficient water resources allocation.enAttribution 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Water allocationEconomic instrumentsIntegrated Water Resources ManagementWater policyEuropeArticle19108126