AbstractsEconomics

Land subsidence as a result of removal of groundwater is a common occurrence in many areas of the world. In south—central Arizona, subsidence of agricultural land over a groundwater aquifer offered a simplified economy against which the economic importance of subsidence could be tested. To perform the test, all of the various damages that are caused by subsidence were inventoried. Costs of damages were evaluated by the use of Benefit—Cost Analysis with alternative management proposals. It was determined that the impact of subsidence—caused damages to the economy of the study area was almost negligible. Furthermore, no steps could be recommended to halt subsidence because of the excessive cost of halting water pumping and imported water.