Accounting the Virtual Water and Virtual Land Based on Input-output analysis-- A Case Study of Zhangye City

Abstract

Water and land are the basic elements of ecological protection, economic development and human life in Zhangye city. The virtual water and virtual land accounting are the core research content to achieve sustainable development in this area. In this paper, the virtual trade of water and land in Zhangye city is analyzed via environmental input-output analysis. It is found that the virtual water and land in this area are in a net outflow state. From the perspective of sectors, the agricultural sector is the largest net outflow sector of virtual water and virtual land, while the manufacturing sector is the net inflow sector. The accounting in this paper can provide a solid foundation for the formulation of industrial and trade policies.