Public pension accelerates the household electrification: Experience from rural China

IF 9.2 2区经济学 Q1 ECONOMICS

Energy Policy Pub Date : 2025-10-01 DOI:10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114912

Lin Zhu , Hua Liao , Tunye Qiu , Jiahui Chen

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Abstract

This study evaluates the impact of government transfer payment policies on rural household electricity consumption. Leveraging the implementation of China's New Rural Social Pension (NRSP) scheme, which provides pension income to individuals aged 60 and above, we employ a fuzzy regression discontinuity design to causally identify the effect of pension income on household electricity consumption. The findings show that the NRSP eligibility increases electricity expenditure by approximately 1.2 times among beneficiary households. The effect is especially pronounced for low-income households, elderly individuals living alone, and those receiving pensions through personal contributions. Further analysis reveals three main pathways through which the NRSP promotes electricity use: a direct income effect, a shift from traditional to modern energy sources, and changes in time allocation due to reduced engagement in non-agricultural labor. These results underscore the broader role of public pension programs in alleviating energy poverty and supporting a just energy transition in rural areas.

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公共养老加速家庭电气化：来自中国农村的经验

本研究评估政府转移支付政策对农村家庭用电量的影响。利用中国新农村社会养老金（NRSP）计划的实施，该计划为60岁及以上的个人提供养老金收入，我们采用模糊回归不连续设计来确定养老金收入对家庭用电量的影响。研究结果表明，获得NRSP资格后，受益家庭的电费支出增加了约1.2倍。这种影响对低收入家庭、独居老人和通过个人缴费领取养老金的人尤其明显。进一步的分析揭示了NRSP促进电力使用的三个主要途径：直接收入效应，从传统能源向现代能源的转变，以及由于非农业劳动力减少而导致的时间分配的变化。这些结果强调了公共养老金计划在缓解能源贫困和支持农村地区公正的能源转型方面的更广泛作用。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Energy Policy 管理科学-环境科学

CiteScore

17.30

自引率

5.60%

发文量

540

审稿时长

7.9 months

期刊介绍： Energy policy is the manner in which a given entity (often governmental) has decided to address issues of energy development including energy conversion, distribution and use as well as reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in order to contribute to climate change mitigation. The attributes of energy policy may include legislation, international treaties, incentives to investment, guidelines for energy conservation, taxation and other public policy techniques. Energy policy is closely related to climate change policy because totalled worldwide the energy sector emits more greenhouse gas than other sectors.