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Household electrification and indoor air pollution

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  • Barron, Manuel
  • Torero, Maximo

Abstract

This paper provides the first experimental evidence that household electrification leads to substantial reductions in indoor air pollution. Two years after electricity rollout, we measured overnight fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration, which was on average 66% lower among households that were randomly encouraged to connect to the electrical grid compared to those that were not. As a result, prevalence of acute respiratory infections among children under six was 8-14 percentage points lower in the former group. We find suggestive evidence that these changes are at least partly driven by reductions in kerosene use.

Suggested Citation

  • Barron, Manuel & Torero, Maximo, 2017. "Household electrification and indoor air pollution," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 81-92.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeeman:v:86:y:2017:i:c:p:81-92
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jeem.2017.07.007
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Household electrification; Indoor air pollution; Fine particulate matter; Health;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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