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The cost of clean energy transition in rural China: Evidence based on marginal treatment effects

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  • Li, Meng
  • Jin, Tianyu
  • Liu, Shenglong
  • Zhou, Shaojie

Abstract

The clean energy transition in residential sector in rural China is of great significance for climate change mitigation. Using rural household survey from 2005 to 2008, we estimate the marginal treatment effects of using gas on energy expenses in rural China based on the generalized Roy model. Generally, using gas increases the rural household expense on fuel by 65%–80% on average. Essential heterogeneity are proved across different households. The households with lower income, lower educational attainment, smaller floor space are less willing to use gas as their main fuel. The policy-relevant treatment effects show that the household expenses on fuel would increase by at least 80% if the popularity of gas doubled, which might worsen the financial condition of poor families. The policy simulation results imply more flexible rural energy policies should be concerned for heterogeneous families.

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  • Li, Meng & Jin, Tianyu & Liu, Shenglong & Zhou, Shaojie, 2021. "The cost of clean energy transition in rural China: Evidence based on marginal treatment effects," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:97:y:2021:i:c:s0140988321000724
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2021.105167
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