The Effect of Electrification on Socioeconomic Well-Being and Environmental Outcomes: Evidence for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic

This paper investigates the impact of electrification of households in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic using data from the Lao Expenditure and Consumption Survey.

It finds that a higher proportion of households with electricity is associated with an increase in the electrification of neighboring households. The analysis also finds that electrification increases income, improves children’s educational completion, and reduces the use of dirty fuel for lighting and cooking, thus contributing to improved socioeconomic and environmental outcomes.

First published in ADB.org.