Abstract
This paper examines how obtaining a household electric connection affects the time allocation of individuals in Guatemala. Time use data collected as part of a household survey in 2000 is combined with data on the location of hydroelectric dams. Variation in the distance to the nearest operating dam is employed to predict household electrification rates in municipalities, conditional on other infrastructure, local observables and provincial fixed effects. Consistent with a hypothesis that household electrification extends the potential working day, electrification is found to have increase time spent working for money by prime-age individuals of both sexes. Electrification also decreases leisure substantially for this age group. Boys and girls do not, however, spend more time studying as a result of electrification.
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