Analyzing the input-output efficiency of Water-Energy-Food Nexus in
Brazil: a time-spatial approach
Abstract
Understanding the effects of water, energy, and food (WEF) consumption
and production on socio-economic and environmental indicators has become
a strategic issue for all countries, especially the developing ones,
that depend on natural resources to promote economic growth. Our main
objective with this study is to quantify and understand the
interconnections (Nexus) of WEF production and consumption with regional
economic growth and social development in Brazil. We use a multi
input-output approach based on a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model
to calculate efficiency indicators over time for various municipalities
in Brazil. We assume that a high input-output efficiency level indicates
that a certain municipality can reach larger output benefits with less
WEF consumption. The time-based approach using the Malmquist Index model
enables us determining whether cities’ WEF input-output efficiencies
have been rising or declining over time. The time-spatial analysis is
appropriate to indicate the level of interdependence between WEF-Nexus
and the demographic, economic, and environmental systems in Brazil. We
expect that our results can help policymakers establishing regional and
city-level policies that can benefit a more efficient use of WEF
resources.