Moving Up the Energy Ladder: The Effect of an Increase in Economic Well-Being on the Fuel Consumption Choices of the Poor in India
American Economic Review
vol. 105,
no. 5, May 2015
(pp. 242-46)
Abstract
Rising household wealth may potentially impact both total fuel consumption and fuel-type composition, resulting in significant health and environmental implications. Using data from a field experiment in India, we explore the effects of a transfer program that provided poor, rural households with greater levels of assets and cash. Total fuel consumption rose as a result of the transfers. Households shifted from using electricity rather than kerosene as their primary form of light, but total kerosene consumption also rose. In contrast, we did not observe a shift to cleaner cooking fuels.Citation
Hanna, Rema, and Paulina Oliva. 2015. "Moving Up the Energy Ladder: The Effect of an Increase in Economic Well-Being on the Fuel Consumption Choices of the Poor in India." American Economic Review, 105 (5): 242-46. DOI: 10.1257/aer.p20151097Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- D12 Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
- H23 Taxation and Subsidies: Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
- I12 Health Behavior
- I31 General Welfare; Well-Being
- O12 Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
- O13 Economic Development: Agriculture; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Other Primary Products
- Q48 Energy: Government Policy