Impacts of Rural Electrification in Rwanda

42 Pages Posted: 16 Sep 2011

See all articles by Gunther Bensch

Gunther Bensch

RWI Leibniz Institute for Economic Research

Jochen Kluve

RWI; Humboldt University of Berlin; IZA

Jörg Ankel-Peters

RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research; University of Passau - Business Administration and Economics

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: September 1, 2011

Abstract

Rural electrification is believed to contribute to the achievement of the MDG. In this paper, we investigate electrification impacts on different indicators. We use household data that we collected in Rwanda in villages with and without electricity access. We account for self-selection and regional differences by using households from the electrified villages to estimate the probability to connect for all households – including those in the non-electrified villages. Based on these probabilities we identify counterfactual households and find robust evidence for positive effects on lighting usage. Effects on income and children’s home studying become insignificant if regional differences are accounted for.

Keywords: Rural electrification, energy access, impact evaluation, matching

JEL Classification: O12, O13, O18, O22

Suggested Citation

Bensch, Gunther and Kluve, Jochen and Kluve, Jochen and Ankel-Peters, Jörg, Impacts of Rural Electrification in Rwanda (September 1, 2011). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1928537 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1928537

Gunther Bensch

RWI Leibniz Institute for Economic Research ( email )

Hohenzollernstr. 1-3
Essen, 45128
Germany

Jochen Kluve

Humboldt University of Berlin ( email )

Spandauer Str. 1
Berlin, D-10099
Germany

RWI ( email )

Essen
Germany

IZA

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Jörg Ankel-Peters (Contact Author)

RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research ( email )

Hohenzollernstr. 1-3
45128 Essen
Germany
0049-201-8149-247 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.rwi-essen.de

University of Passau - Business Administration and Economics ( email )

Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultaet
Passau, D-94030
Germany

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