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Off-farm employment and household clean energy transition in rural China: A study based on a gender perspective

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  • Chang, Huayi
  • Heerink, Nico
  • Zhang, Junbiao
  • He, Ke

Abstract

Although numerous studies in developing countries have increasingly focused on the important implications of off-farm employment for the success of rural energy transition, it is easy to ignore the fact that determining who to employ in off-farm sectors can impact household energy transition decisions differently. Based on the nationally representative data from the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) 2015 survey, this study tries to fill the gap and examines the interaction between off-farm employment decisions between couples and household clean energy consumption in rural China by providing a new view towards gender. The results show that two-paycheck households consume more clean energy than other household types. Off-farm employment of women is a key factor driving the household clean energy consumption to a higher level, and wage-employed wives contribute more to these decisions than self-employed ones.

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  • Chang, Huayi & Heerink, Nico & Zhang, Junbiao & He, Ke, 2024. "Off-farm employment and household clean energy transition in rural China: A study based on a gender perspective," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 287(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:287:y:2024:i:c:s0360544223029456
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.129551
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Clean energy; Energy transition; Gender; Off-farm employment; Rural China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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