Mapping Water Dependencies via IO Linkages: Identifying Key Sectors in Poland’s Economy (EEIO 2020)

Abstract Book of the 10th International Conference on Advanced Research in Management, Business and Finance

Year: 2026

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Mapping Water Dependencies via IO Linkages: Identifying Key Sectors in Poland’s Economy (EEIO 2020)

Kamil Gacek

ABSTRACT:

While traditional resource management often targets direct extraction, the complex interdependencies within modern economies dictate that supply chains are the primary drivers of water demand. This study maps the structural propagation of water use in Poland by applying an Environmentally Extended Input-Output (EEIO) framework to 2020 data. By leveraging the Leontief model to separate direct on-site withdrawals from indirect embodied water requirements, the analysis exposes the critical IO linkages that govern national water consumption. The results reveal a highly concentrated network of dependencies driven by a few high-leverage nodes, particularly within the energy and heavy manufacturing sectors. From a systemic perspective, intersectoral IO linkages propagate the majority of the burden, with indirect effects dominating macro-level water use. The analysis uncovers pronounced structural heterogeneity, classifying sectors by their direct or indirect dominance, and identifies central hubs where upstream propagation is strongest. By isolating these key sectors and tracing their backward and forward linkages, this research provides a structural roadmap for systemic water conservation. The findings demonstrate that targeted interventions in these critical nodes will cascade through the supply chain network, enabling highly effective, economy-wide water savings.

Keywords: Input Output Models; Water Footprint; Key Sectors; Sustainable Development