摘要：In this paper, a basic theoretical model of residential water consumption that adequately repre-sents consumer behavior when facing a nonlinear budget constraint is developed. The theoret-ical model for an individual consumer is adapted to yield an aggregate model that essentiallypreserves the structure of the demand function for the individual. The model is used to studythe in.uence of prices and nonprice conservation programs on consumption and conservationbehavior in three water districts in the San Francisco Bay Area. The empirical results showthat pricing can be an effective tool in reducing water consumption but, when the in.uence ofconservation programs is controlled for, the pricing effect is mitigated. Use restrictions andlandscaping audits appear to be particularly effective in inducing conservation from consumers.
