Rural Electrification in Cambodia: Does It Improve Welfare of Household?

Abstract

We use subsamples of Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey (CSES) 2004 and 2011 to examine the impact of rural electrification on household consumption, tobacco consumption, and children's education in Cambodia. Dierence-in-Dierences was used to find that rural electrification increased household consumption by about 17 percent and reduced probability of tobacco consumption of household head by 23 percent. We also find that richer households benefitted more than poorer households. Additionally, electrification increased boys' years of schooling completed by 0.68 and girls' years of schooling completed by 0.65. It also increased probability of enrolling in primary school for boys, but not for girls. And it increased probability of completing primary education by 12 percent for boys and 8 percent for girls.