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The Power of Hydroelectric Dams: Historical Evidence from the United States over the Twentieth Century

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  • Edson Severnini

Abstract

This paper evaluates large-scale hydroelectric dams built in the United States during the twentieth century. Combining panel event-study designs and synthetic control methods, two results stand out. First, dams constructed pre-1950 spurred short-run local growth, in large part thanks to a ‘cheap-local-power advantage’, and resulted in remarkable long-run growth, more than doubling local population density after 50 years. Second, dams constructed post-1950 had only modest effects on growth. The first result indicates agglomerative impacts on local economic activity. The second result suggests that the cheap-local-power advantage created by hydropower attenuated after 1950, probably because of such innovations as high-tension transmission lines.

Suggested Citation

  • Edson Severnini, 2023. "The Power of Hydroelectric Dams: Historical Evidence from the United States over the Twentieth Century," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 133(649), pages 420-459.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:econjl:v:133:y:2023:i:649:p:420-459.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/ej/ueac059
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    Cited by:

    1. Greenspon, Jacob & Hanson, Gordon, 2025. "Local energy access and industry specialization: Evidence from World War II emergency pipelines," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    2. Cui, Xiaomeng & Lai, Wangyang & Lin, Tao, 2025. "Long-distance water infrastructure, rural development and urban growth: Evidence from China," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    3. Costa, Francisco J M & Szerman, Dimitri & Assunção, Juliano, 2018. "Local Economic Impacts of Hydroelectric Power Plants: Evidence from Brazil," SocArXiv kzhs6, Center for Open Science.
    4. Griffin, Míde & Lyons, Sean & Nolan, Anne, 2025. "Rural electrification and secondary school enrolments in Ireland," MPRA Paper 124216, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Ren, Shenggang & Bao, Ruizhi & Gao, Zhengye, 2025. "Arrival of distant power: The impact of ultra-high voltage transmission projects on energy structure in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).
    6. Clay, Karen & Hernandez-Cortes, Danae & Jha, Akshaya & Lewis, Joshua & Miller, Noah & Severnini, Edson, 2025. "The Social Lifecycle Impacts of Power Plant Siting in the Historical United States," IZA Discussion Papers 18052, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Karen Clay & Danae Hernandez-Cortes & Akshaya Jha & Joshua Lewis & Noah Miller & Edson Severnini, 2025. "The Social Lifecycle Impacts of Power Plant Siting in the Historical United States," NBER Chapters, in: Environmental and Energy Policy and the Economy, volume 7, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Andrea Xamo & Roberto Ricciuti, 2025. "Electricity and the Geography of Industrial Development in a Latecomer Country: Preliminary Evidence on Italy, 1901-1911," Working Papers 01/2025, University of Verona, Department of Economics.

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