Can you give some examples of countries that have no natural sources of fresh water that currenly benefit by importing water at "below market" prices?
Such places may exist but I am not aware of them.
Such places may exist but I am not aware of them.
Look at every major city in the world.
They are all reliant on a reliable, major water source.
Notice how many cities exist on rivers or near lakes? Not a coincidence.
There's other things that predict growth -- suitability for trade and the presence of a hinterland -- but water is the best predictor.