Impact of Power Sector Reform on the Poor : A Review of Issues and the Literature

Prescription for the commercialization, restructuring, and privatization of the energy sector are now in fashion. They are actively promoted by donors but fiercely decried by opponents. One crux in the debate is the apprehension that these reforms...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors:	Albouy, Yves, Nadifi, Nadia
Format:	ESMAP Paper
Language:	English en_US
Published:	World Bank, Washington, DC 2014
Subjects:	ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY ACCESS TO ENERGY ACCESS TO MODEM ENERGY ADJUSTMENT LENDING AIR POLLUTION BIOMASS FUELS CHARCOAL CITIES CLEAN WATER COAL COMMERCIAL ENERGY COOKING COOKING FUELS CROSS SUBSIDIES CROSS SUBSIDIZATION DEFICITS DISTRICT HEATING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ECONOMISTS ELECTRIC LIGHTING ELECTRIC POWER ELECTRIC POWER SECTOR ELECTRICITY BILLS ELECTRICITY COSTS ELECTRICITY SECTOR EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE EMPLOYMENT ENDANGERED SPECIES ENERGY ACCESS ENERGY DEPARTMENT ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ENERGY EFFICIENCY ENERGY IMPORTS ENERGY INTENSIVE ENERGY NEEDS ENERGY POLICY ENERGY PRACTICES ENERGY PRICE ENERGY PRICES ENERGY PRICING ENERGY PROBLEM ENERGY PROJECTS ENERGY SECTOR ENERGY SECTOR MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE ENERGY SERVICE ENERGY SERVICES ENERGY SUBSIDIES ENERGY SUPPLIES ENERGY SUPPLY ENERGY USE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT EQUILIBRIUM EXPLOITATION EXTERNAL COSTS FUEL FUEL TAXATION FUEL WOOD FUELS GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM MODEL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES GRID GRID SERVICE HOUSING HOUSING SUBSIDIES IMPORTS INCOME INFLATION KEROSENE KEROSENE SUBSIDIES LABOR PRODUCTIVITY LICENSES LIGHTING LIVING CONDITIONS LPG BOTTLES MUNICIPALITIES NATURAL GAS NATURAL RESOURCES OIL OIL PRICES POLICY MAKERS POVERTY ALLEVIATION POWER POWER DISTRIBUTION POWER MARKETS POWER SECTOR REFORM POWER UTILITIES PRICE CHANGES PRICE SUBSIDIES PRIVATE SECTOR PROPERTY VALUES PROVISION OF INFRASTRUCTURE PUBLIC EXPENDITURE PUBLIC EXPENDITURE REFORM PUBLIC EXPENDITURES PUBLIC FUNDS PUBLIC SPENDING PUBLIC TRANSPORT RISK MANAGEMENT ROADS RURAL ELECTRIFICATION RURAL ENERGY SOCIAL COSTS STATE-OWNED UTILITIES SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SUSTAINABLE GROWTH TAX TAX REVENUE TAX REVENUES TAX SYSTEMS TAXATION TELECOMMUNICATIONS TRADEOFFS URBAN AREAS URBAN ENERGY URBAN POOR URBAN POVERTY URBANIZATION WASTE WELFARE GAINS WELFARE LOSS
Online Access:	http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2000/07/717467/impact-power-sector-reform-poor-review-issues-literature http://hdl.handle.net/10986/20317

Description
Summary:	Prescription for the commercialization, restructuring, and privatization of the energy sector are now in fashion. They are actively promoted by donors but fiercely decried by opponents. One crux in the debate is the apprehension that these reforms are a setback for the poor. The present note reviews the issues and the literature. Its objective is to inform rather than settle the debate and to suggest orientations for future research. Its focus is on the power sector and on developing countries. The literature and data reviewed here strengthens the presumption that the impact on the poor has been positive in countries where the reform is most complete and mature. While the direct impact is often a tariff increase for many users, in these cases, the poor were protected against increases or benefited as a group from the improvements that reform brought about in the secotr--better access and service--in government finances and in the economy at large. Information is sketchy, however, on many of these aspects and in what circumstances the results, good or bad were obtained; data is also limited to a handful of countries. Further work is strongly recommended along three directions: post-reform social assessments; good practices evaluation; and pre-reform social assessments.

Impact of Power Sector Reform on the Poor : A Review of Issues and the Literature

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