Publications
Publications
Electrification to Grow Manufacturing? Evidence from Mini-Grids in Nepal
By: Robyn C. Meeks, Hope F. Thompson and Zhenxuan Wang
Abstract
Firms in developing countries often identify electricity as a major constraint to operations. Decentralized renewable energy sources could help alleviate these constraints. We investigate whether electrification in Nepal -- via microhydro plants and their mini-grids -- helped grow the manufacturing sector. Mini-grids significantly increased manufacturing establishments; yet their overall presence remained limited due to low baseline numbers. Following electrification, females and males were more likely to be employees and less likely to be self-employed. Likewise, usual employment activities shifted from labor in agriculture to salary and wage work. In more remote locations, the impacts of mini-grids on manufacturing establishments and labor were significantly muted.
Keywords
Developing Countries and Economies; Renewable Energy; Infrastructure; Economic Growth; Employment; Manufacturing Industry; Utilities Industry
Citation
Meeks, Robyn C., Hope F. Thompson, and Zhenxuan Wang. "Electrification to Grow Manufacturing? Evidence from Mini-Grids in Nepal." Duke Global Working Paper Series, No. 36, March 2021.