Targeting clean fuels: Pricing strategies and the distribution of benefits in Ghana

Last registered on May 13, 2023

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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title

Targeting clean fuels: Pricing strategies and the distribution of benefits in Ghana

RCT ID

AEARCTR-0008400

Initial registration date

October 30, 2021

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published

November 03, 2021, 10:48 AM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Last updated

May 13, 2023, 7:04 PM EDT

Last updated is the most recent time when changes to the trial's registration were published.

Locations

Country

Ghana

Region

Primary Investigator

Name

Misbath Daouda

Affiliation

Columbia Mailman School of Public Health

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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name

Kelsey Jack

PI Affiliation

University of California, Santa Barbara

Contact Investigator

PI Name

Darby Jack

PI Affiliation

Columbia Mailman School of Public Health

Contact Investigator

PI Name

Paulina Oliva

PI Affiliation

University of Southern California

Contact Investigator

PI Name

Kwaku Poku Asante

PI Affiliation

Kintampo Health Research Centre

Contact Investigator

PI Name

Flavio Malagutti

PI Affiliation

University of California, Santa Barbara

Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status

On going

Start date

2021-09-01

End date

2023-12-15

Keywords

Behavior, Environment & Energy, Gender

Additional Keywords

Air pollution exposure

JEL code(s)

Secondary IDs

Prior work

This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.

Abstract

Globally, nearly 3 billion people cook with traditional stoves and fuels. Household air pollution represents the largest energy-
related health risk, leading to nearly 2.3 million preventable pollution-related
deaths per year. Previous efforts to drive clean fuel transitions by targeting subsidies to the
poor have largely been unsuccessful. This project tests a novel and scalable
approach that utilizes insights from second degree price discrimination and
ordeal mechanisms to balance the cost of subsidization with the social benefits
of clean fuel use. Using a randomized controlled trial (RCT), the project will
evaluate the impact of targeting on overall LPG use and its cost effectiveness,
compared to untargeted subsidies. We will also measure how the use of clean fuel translates into overall and gender-specific reductions in personal exposure to air pollution. The results of this study will inform the Government of Ghana’s
household energy policy, which focuses on improving the country’s LPG
distribution system.

External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation

Asante, Kwaku Poku et al. 2023. "Targeting clean fuels: Pricing strategies and the distribution of benefits in Ghana." AEA RCT Registry. May 13. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.8400-2.0

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Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)

Households will choose between liquid petroleum gas cylinders of different sizes (and standard LPG stoves), which will be paid for on deposit. Over the course of the study, households will be able to exchange their empty cylinder for a full one, at a subsidy level that will vary by treatment and cylinder size.

Intervention Start Date

2022-01-10

Intervention End Date

2023-10-10

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)

Take up of the LPG cylinder and stove
Number of exchanges of the LPG cylinder
Air pollution exposure

Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Pollution exposure will be measured in a sub-sample using wearable exposure monitoring devices, deployed simultaneously for both the male and female household heads.

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)

How the primary outcomes of take up and LPG use (cylinder exchanges) vary with income.

Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

During an initial design stage, households will choose cylinder sizes in a multiple price list that has them choose between a small cylinder, a large cylinder or no cylinder, where the subsidy on the per kilogram price of exchanging an empty cylinder for a full one vary across sizes and within the list.

During a second validation stage, a screening menu with two cylinder sizes offered at different subsidy levels, based on data from the design stage, will be compared to a flat price per kg (subsidy) that does not vary with cylinder size.

Empty cylinders and stoves will be offered on deposit for a fee that does not vary by treatment. Participants will exchange empty cylinders at an LPG exchange depot established for study purposes in collaboration with an LPG supply company.

Experimental Design Details

Randomization Method

Randomization will be completed by a computer.

Randomization Unit

Randomization will take place at the household level.

Was the treatment clustered?

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters

The study design does not include clusters - it will include approximately 1250 households.

Sample size: planned number of observations

1250 households

Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms

In the design phase, all households will participate in the MPL. In the validation phase, sample sizes will be allocated to maximize power, based on results from the design phase.

Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)

Supporting Documents and Materials

IRB