Decision-making and integrated assessment models of the water-energy-food nexus

Studying trade-offs in the long-term development of water-energy-food systems requires a new family of hydroeconomic optimization models. This article reviews the central con- siderations behind these models, highlighting the importance of water infrastructure, the foundations of a theory of decision-making, and the handling of uncertainty. Integrated as- sessment models (IAMs), used in climate change policy research, provide insights that can support this development. In particular, IAM approaches to intertemporal decision-making and economic valuation can improve existing models. At the same time, IAMs have weak- nesses identified elsewhere and can benefit from the development of hydroeconomic models, which have complementary strengths.