Impact Evaluation: Energy and Development

3 credits · School of Public Policy

Universal energy access is often viewed as a catalyst for economic growth and development, yet the existing evidence on the effects of energy access are mixed. Understanding causal effects of these efforts is important given the alternative development initiatives that could be supported with funding from various sources (e.g., government, NGO, and development banks). This course will provide students with an understanding of (1) the status of empirical economic evidence on the energy and development relationship, and (2) the importance of causal evidence to estimate the impacts of energy interventions and policies in developing countries. This course aims to provide the skills necessary to both evaluate the merits of existing studies as well as propose future impact evaluations.