Up in Smoke: The Influence of Household Behavior on the Long-Run Impact of Improved Cooking Stoves
2016; American Economic Association; Volume: 8; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1257/pol.20140008
ISSN1945-7812
AutoresRema Hanna, Esther Duflo, Michael Greenstone,
Tópico(s)Environmental Education and Sustainability
ResumoLaboratory studies suggest that improved cooking stoves can reduce indoor air pollution, improve health, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries. We provide evidence, from a large-scale randomized trial in India, on the benefits of a common, laboratory-validated stove with a four-year follow-up. While smoke inhalation initially falls, this effect disappears by year two. We find no changes across health outcomes or greenhouse gas emissions. Households used the stoves irregularly and inappropriately, failed to maintain them, and usage declined over time. This study underscores the need to test environmental technologies in real-world settings where behavior may undermine potential impacts. (JEL D12, O12, O13, Q53, Q54, Q55)
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