Access to Modern Energy: A Review of Impact Evaluations

30 Pages Posted: 20 Nov 2014

See all articles by Jacopo Bonan

Jacopo Bonan

Catholic University of Milan (Brescia)

Stefano Pareglio

Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Milan

Massimo Tavoni

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM); Princeton University - Princeton Environmental Institute

Date Written: November 19, 2014

Abstract

Universal access to modern energy services, in terms of access to electricity and to modern cooking facilities, has been recognized as fundamental challenge for development and is likely to be included in the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals. Despite a strong praise for action and several programs at both national and international level, very few impact evaluation studies try to shed light on the causal relationship between access to energy and development, by also allowing decision makers to rigorously assess cost-effectiveness and efficiency of policies and programs. This work attempts to review the literature on existing impact evaluation of access to electricity and modern cooking facilities. For access to electricity we consider as outcomes labour markets, time allocation, household welfare (consumption, income, schooling and health) and business. For access to improved cookstoves, we assess impacts on household welfare. The reviewed literature highlights a significant causal impact of electricity access on important metrics of wellbeing, but more mixed evidence regarding clean cookstove. Finally, we also review the barriers and drivers of access to modern energy services identified by most recent impact evaluation studies.

Keywords: Impact Evaluation, Energy Poverty, Energy Access, Rural Electrification, Modern Cookstoves, Literature Review

JEL Classification: O1, O13, Q4, Q48

Suggested Citation

Bonan, Jacopo and Pareglio, Stefano and Tavoni, Massimo, Access to Modern Energy: A Review of Impact Evaluations (November 19, 2014). FEEM Working Paper No. 96.2014, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2527874 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2527874

Jacopo Bonan (Contact Author)

Catholic University of Milan (Brescia) ( email )

Milan
Italy

Stefano Pareglio

Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Milan ( email )

Milan, Milan
Italy

Massimo Tavoni

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM) ( email )

Corso Magenta 63
20123 Milan
Italy

Princeton University - Princeton Environmental Institute

22 Chambers Street
Princeton, NJ 08544-0708
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
432
Abstract Views
1,894
Rank
123,761
PlumX Metrics