Subsidies, Learning Effects and Reference Dependence – Does Free Distribution of Improved Biomass Cookstoves Decrease Willingness to Pay in the Long Run?

Dr. Gunther Bensch from the Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung e.V. (RWI) in Essen will present his work in progress on "Subsidies, learning effects and reference dependence – Does free distribution of improved biomass cookstoves decrease willingness to pay in the long run?."

Gunther Bensch is a researcher at the RWI research department "Environment and Resources." Since 2007, he has been working in research and consultancy projects for development agencies including the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, GIZ, UNIDO, and World Bank as well as for the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation, 3ie, and World Vision. His research focus is on impact evaluation of development interventions using modern empirical methods. In particular, he studies electrification and improved cooking stoves interventions. He has led and implemented surveys for energy projects in Indonesia and several countries in East and West Africa. Dr. Bensch received his Ph.D. in Economics at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany (Title: “Empirical Insights on Energy Access and its Poverty Impacts in Sub-Saharan Africa”).