How Will Energy Demand Develop in the Developing World? / Catherine Wolfram, Orie Shelef, Paul J. Gertler.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wolfram, Catherine.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Shelef, Orie.

Gertler, Paul J.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w17747.

NBER working paper series no. w17747

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2012.

Summary:

Most of the medium-run growth in energy demand is forecast to come from the developing world, which consumed more total units of energy than the developed world in 2007. We argue that the main driver of the growth is likely to be increased incomes among the poor and near-poor. We document that as households come out of poverty and join the middle class, they acquire appliances, such as refrigerators, and vehicles for the first time. These new goods require energy to use and energy to manufacture. The current forecasts for energy demand in the developing world may be understated because they do not accurately capture the dramatic increase in demand associated with poverty reduction.

Notes:

Print version record

January 2012.