Heterogeneous Effects of Rural Electrification: Evidence from Bangladesh

38 Pages Posted: 13 Jun 2017

Date Written: June 12, 2017

Abstract

Achieving universal access to electricity is one of the most important energy policy goals set by governments in the developing world. The recent empirical literature, however, paints a mixed picture about the economic viability of rural electrification. Although many studies find substantial socioeconomic benefits from rural electrification, others propose that these benefits are overstated. This paper examines the hypothesis that the magnitude and the nature of benefits associated with electrification are highly context dependent. Using a panel data of 7,018 rural households in Bangladesh for 2005 and 2010, the paper explores two underlying determinants of the heterogeneity: the quality of electricity supply and the number of years of being connected to the grid. The analysis uses an instrumental variable and propensity-score-weighed fixed-effects model to address potential endogeneity of electricity adoption. The analysis finds that power outages have a negative impact on almost all development outcomes considered, while some benefits of electrification accrue only over the long run. The overall gain from expanding access to and improving reliability of electricity supply in Bangladesh is estimated to be US$2.3 billion a year.

Keywords: Inequality, Economic Growth, Energy and Mining, Energy Demand, Rural Energy, Economic Theory & Research, Industrial Economics, Energy and Environment

Suggested Citation

Samad, Hussain A. and Zhang, Fan, Heterogeneous Effects of Rural Electrification: Evidence from Bangladesh (June 12, 2017). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 8102, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2985529

Hussain A. Samad (Contact Author)

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433
United States

Fan Zhang

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433
United States

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

Paper statistics

Downloads
142
Abstract Views
634
Rank
368,681
PlumX Metrics