The introduction of market values within an IWRM framework allows prices to be set for high-value and low-value uses. The difficulty is that, in market terms, a high-value use might well be one in which water is extensively used for production of crops (or raw materials extraction) which command a high export price, but which exhaust the water resource base. Equally, if a high-value use is assigned to securing a minimum water supply for people living in poverty, it will be difficult to procure resonance in market values. The management of prices, tariffs, subsidies, and the systems needed to implement them in such a way as to ensure equity without intrusion from politically and economically powerful groups, require a high degree of sophisticated management, and a regulatory and operational regime beyond the capacity of many existing administrations. It is not practicable to lay down a set of universal principles concerning the use or non-use of subsidies, or for tariff structures and pricing regimes. The many economic parameters, including users' capacity to pay and the possibilities for cross-subsidies, have to be addressed in each setting. Thus, capacity building for undertaking such exercises should be a priority; and likely shortcomings in implementation should be recognised and avoided.