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Credit, Attention, and Externalities in the Adoption of Energy Efficient Technologies by Low-Income Households

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  • Susanna B. Berkouwer
  • Joshua T. Dean

Abstract

We study an energy efficient charcoal cookstove in an experiment with 1,000 households in Nairobi. We estimate a 39 percent reduction in charcoal spending, which matches engineering estimates, generating a 295 percent annual return. Despite fuel savings of $237 over the stove's two-year lifespan—and $295 in emissions reductions—households are only willing to pay $12. Drawing attention to energy savings does not increase demand. However, a loan more than doubles willingness to pay: credit constraints prevent adoption of privately optimal technologies. Energy efficient technologies could drive sustainable development by slowing greenhouse emissions while saving households money.

Suggested Citation

  • Susanna B. Berkouwer & Joshua T. Dean, 2022. "Credit, Attention, and Externalities in the Adoption of Energy Efficient Technologies by Low-Income Households," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 112(10), pages 3291-3330, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:112:y:2022:i:10:p:3291-3330
    DOI: 10.1257/aer.20210766
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jacek Kulawik & Michał Soliwoda & Agnieszka Kurdyś-Kujawska & Justyna Herda-Kopańska & Cezary Klimkowski, 2023. "Cost of Energy Consumption and Return of Excise Tax on Motor Fuels vs. the Durability of Operations and Financial Sustainability in Polish Agriculture," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-22, December.
    2. Jack, B. Kelsey & McDermott, Kathryn & Sautmann, Anja, 2022. "Multiple price lists for willingness to pay elicitation," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    3. Bakhtiar, M. Mehrab & Guiteras, Raymond P. & Levinsohn, James & Mobarak, Ahmed Mushfiq, 2023. "Social and financial incentives for overcoming a collective action problem," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    4. Bartels, Lara & Werthschulte, Madeline, 2023. ""More bang for the buck"? Evidence on the effectiveness of an energy efficiency subsidy," ZEW Discussion Papers 23-022, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    5. Anup Malani & Cynthia Kinnan & Gabriella Conti & Kosuke Imai & Morgen Miller & Shailender Swaminathan & Alessandra Voena & Bartosz Woda, 2024. "Evaluating and Pricing Health Insurance in Lower-income Countries: A Field Experiment in India," NBER Working Papers 32239, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Wu, Xuepin & Ma, Yongjun, 2023. "Research on the comparison effect of urban residents' consumption," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    7. Sarah Armitage & Noël Bakhtian & Adam B. Jaffe, 2023. "Innovation Market Failures and the Design of New Climate Policy Instruments," NBER Chapters, in: Environmental and Energy Policy and the Economy, volume 5, pages 4-48, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Gelo, Dambala & Kollamparambil, Umakrishnan & Jeuland, Marc, 2023. "The causal effect of income on household energy transition: Evidence from old age pension eligibility in South Africa," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    9. Leshan Yu & Yan Song & Haixia Wu & Hengtong Shi, 2023. "Credit Constraint, Interlinked Insurance and Credit Contract and Farmers’ Adoption of Innovative Seeds-Field Experiment of the Loess Plateau," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-28, January.
    10. Dyer, Julian & Shapiro, Jeremy, 2023. "Pumps, prosperity and household power: Experimental evidence on irrigation pumps and smallholder farmers in Kenya," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • G51 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Household Savings, Borrowing, Debt, and Wealth
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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