Survey data for the study Assessing Groundwater Market Readiness

Groundwater depletion is a critical, persistent problem worldwide, especially in arid regions. Although market-based instruments can improve allocative efficiency, their successful deployment relies heavily on institutional preparation and the necessary alignment of stakeholders. This research focuses on evaluating the specific pre-implementation barriers to formalizing groundwater trading within the acutely over-exploited Boshruyeh Plain, Iran. Using a mixed-methods design with input from 109 local stakeholders, the findings expose serious institutional deficits that actively prevent the market's formal establishment. Infrastructure adequacy was perceived as statistically insufficient (mean