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Who benefits from household energy transition? A cost-benefit analysis based on household survey data in China

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  • Xie, Lunyu
  • Wei, Chu
  • Zheng, Xinye
  • Liu, Yang
  • Wu, Wanyi
  • Feng, Ziru

Abstract

Aiming to alleviate air pollution and carbon emissions from heating, Northern China mandatorily converted household heating energy from coal to electricity (Coal to Electricity), natural gas (Coal to Gas), and clean coal (Clean Coal Replacement). Based on large-scale household survey data in Beijing, this study provides a cost-benefit analysis of the transition program and distinguishes between social and private benefits. The results show that all three programs improve the welfare of society and households. Compared to the Clean Coal Replacement program, Coal to Electricity and Coal to Gas programs provide higher environmental benefits while bringing about larger costs, and thus the benefit-to-cost ratios are lower. We also find that private net benefits are lower than social net benefits, and household satisfaction with the programs is positively determined by private net benefits rather than social net benefits. Furthermore, households with lower income and larger housing areas are more likely to be harmed by the programs by a larger burden from the heating energy transition. These findings call attention to inequity issues during the household energy transition.

Suggested Citation

  • Xie, Lunyu & Wei, Chu & Zheng, Xinye & Liu, Yang & Wu, Wanyi & Feng, Ziru, 2023. "Who benefits from household energy transition? A cost-benefit analysis based on household survey data in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:77:y:2023:i:c:s1043951x22001365
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2022.101878
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiang, Chenxi & Xie, Lunyu & Zheng, Xinye, 2024. "Can a mandate be justified by unrealized gains? Evidence from a heating energy transition program in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    2. Wang, Manyu & Wei, Chu, 2024. "Toward sustainable heating: Assessment of the carbon mitigation potential from residential heating in northern rural China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cost-benefit analysis; Energy transition; Inequity; Private benefit; Social benefit;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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