An Analysis of the Role of Water Resource Management in Afghanistan's Economic Development
Keywords:
Econometrics, Afghanistan, Economic Development, Water Resources ManagementAbstract
This study was conducted to examine the role of water resources management in Afghanistan’s economic development. Given the vital importance of water to the agricultural, energy, and employment sectors, effective management of this resource can be considered a key factor in promoting the country’s economic growth. The study employed a quantitative research approach based on the analysis of secondary data covering the period from 2005 to 2022, collected from reliable international sources. A multiple regression model was employed to examine the relationship between water resources management and economic development indicators, including gross domestic product (GDP), agricultural production, employment, and energy production. The results indicate that the model has a satisfactory explanatory power (R² = 0.764). The findings reveal that employment and energy production have positive and statistically significant effects on economic growth in Afghanistan, whereas water resources management and agricultural production, despite exhibiting positive relationships, do not have statistically significant effects. This may be attributed to weaknesses in management structures, infrastructure constraints, and the use of proxy indicators to measure water resources management in the country. Overall, the findings indicate that water resources management, as an underlying factor, plays an indirect yet important role in Afghanistan’s economic development. Realizing its potential impact requires improvements in management systems, the development of water-related infrastructure, and increased efficiency in the utilization of water resources.
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