Publication Date

Fall 12-2024

Document Type

Student Project

First Advisor

Kuehl, Colin

Degree Name

B.S. (Bachelor of Science)

Department

Department of Political Science

Abstract

This study examines the effects of village-level electrification on socioeconomic welfare in rural India, with a focus on inequities in access and outcomes. Electri- fication is widely regarded as a catalyst for development, improving productivity, educational attainment, and income. However, the distribution of these bene- fits remains uneven. Using cross-sectional data from the Socioeconomic High Resolution Urban Geographic (SHRUG) dataset, this paper investigates the re- lationship between eelctricity access and estimated monthly consumption per capita, a proxy for welfare.

The analysis employs multiple linear regression to control for factors such as in- come, poverty rates, gender composition, and land ownership. Results indicate that access to domestic electricity increases estimated monthly consumption by 1.6%, highlighting its positive impact on welfare. However, access to commercial electricity shows no significant effect, underscoring the limited role of electrifica- tion in non-agricultural sectors. The findings reveal that higher-income villages are more likely to benefit from electrification, exacerbating existing socioeco- nomic inequities.

This study contributes to the growing body of literature by offering village-level insights into the determinants and consequences of electrification. Policymakers must address distributional disparities and prioritize targeted strategies-such as integrating gender empowerment and poverty alleviation programs- to ensure equitable access and masximize the developmental benefits of rural electrifica- tion.

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