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Behavioural Drivers of Cooking Energy Choice in Benin

Author

Listed:
  • Nassibou Bassongui

    (Université d’Abomey-Calavi)

  • Albert N’lédji Honlonkou

    (Université d’Abomey-Calavi)

Abstract

This paper explores the behavioural drivers of households’ cooking energy decision-making. We empirically examine the effect of time and spatial discounting on cooking energy choices using Generalised Structural Equation Modelling. We rely on the nationally representative household dataset from Benin’s Harmonised Survey on Living Conditions of Households in 2019. The findings highlight that households’ tendencies towards temporal discounting have detrimental effects on cleaner cooking energies, while spatial discounting promotes the adoption of cleaner cooking energy sources. Furthermore, we discern that the influence of time and spatial discounting varies across rural and urban areas, yielding heterogeneous effects. These findings have implications for a better understanding of the non-economic constraints that hinder the promotion of cleaner cooking energies in developing countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Nassibou Bassongui & Albert N’lédji Honlonkou, 2025. "Behavioural Drivers of Cooking Energy Choice in Benin," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 88(2), pages 533-552, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:enreec:v:88:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s10640-024-00939-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10640-024-00939-x
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Energy choice; Behavioural economics; Time discounting; Spatial discounting;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D9 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics
    • Q4 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy

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