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Elderly care and clean cooking energy use in rural households: A financially supported perspective

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  • Zhao, Lei
  • Zhang, Manchao
  • Yang, Hao
  • Zhang, Haixia

Abstract

The clean use of cooking energy in farming households is essential for transforming and upgrading rural energy consumption. This study utilizes micro-survey data from CFPS 2022 and employs a Probit model to examine the impact of family elderly care primarily supported by financial means on the use of clean cooking energy in rural households. The results indicate that financially supported elderly care positively influences the adoption of clean cooking energy among farming families, with this conclusion holding true across various robustness and endogeneity tests. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the facilitative effect of family financial support is especially pronounced among male household heads, high-income groups, regions with higher economic development levels, and areas with significant population mobility. Mechanism tests show that the promotion of clean cooking energy usage is achieved primarily through optimizing labor resource allocation, transforming employment patterns, and enhancing social network diffusion. Additionally, the study finds that in multi-generational families, when economic support from offspring to parents exceeds the financial support current parents provide to their elders, it may hinder the use of clean cooking energy. Conversely, net financial contributions from parents to their elders effectively enhance the adoption of clean cooking energy.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhao, Lei & Zhang, Manchao & Yang, Hao & Zhang, Haixia, 2025. "Elderly care and clean cooking energy use in rural households: A financially supported perspective," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:322:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225009594
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.135317
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