The political economy of energy access: Survey evidence from India on state intervention and public opinion

Aklin, M., Bayer, P. , Harish, S.P. and Urpelainen, J. (2015) The political economy of energy access: Survey evidence from India on state intervention and public opinion. Energy Research and Social Science, 10, pp. 250-258. (doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2015.07.006)

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Abstract

In India, where energy access is limited, how does the public react to the government's inability to provide citizens with basic energy services, such as electricity and clean cooking fuel? We answer this question using a survey conducted in two rural villages of Uttar Pradesh. First, we examine the association between a respondent's opinion on state intervention and policy failure. Specifically, we focus on whether people who believe in state intervention are likely to have lower levels of satisfaction with the government's energy access policies. Second, we examine the link between policy failure and the likelihood that people consider a political candidate's energy views in voting. We find that people's preference for government intervention has a negative effect on satisfaction levels with government policies, and that people who blame the government for policy failures are less likely to take a political candidate's energy policies into account when voting.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Bayer, Professor Patrick
Authors: Aklin, M., Bayer, P., Harish, S.P., and Urpelainen, J.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Politics
Journal Name:Energy Research and Social Science
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:2214-6296
ISSN (Online):2214-6326
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.
First Published:First published in Energy Research and Social Science 10:250-258
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

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