Multidimensional aspects of cooking fuel choices in Indian households

Abstract

The heterogeneity in a household’s cooking fuel basket has been explained generally by multiple determinants. However, the implication of a household’s allocation of expenses on food and non-food requirements on cooking-fuel choices has not been adequately examined. Therefore, analysing the role of such resource allocations and their impact on household fuel choice is worthwhile. This study examines the multidimensional aspect of fuel choice behaviour of households in emerging economies such as India. In addition to socio-economic, demographic and geographical factors, we have considered State Gross Domestic Products (GSDP) and State Human Development Index (HDI). Our results suggest that the monthly allocation of expenditure under a household’s food and non-food outlays does have a bearing on the choice of cooking fuel. We find that a one-unit rise in the ratio between fuel and food expenditure leads to a 4.4% increase in the probability of using primitive fuels. Our analyses also find rural uptake of modern fuels to be lower than urban areas across the Indian states, irrespective of GSDP levels. However, states with higher HDI tend to adopt cleaner energy. From a household perspective, a female head with decision-making capabilities increases the likelihood of adopting cleaner fuel to 2%. In comparison, educated heads of the households increase the possibility of cleaner fuel adoption to 15%.

Keywords

Cooking fuel choices / Energy ladder hypothesis / Household / Emerging economy / India

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