Gunnar Köhlin - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Gunnar Köhlin
Climate change is the greatest challenge facing humanity, and we are only starting to address it.... more Climate change is the greatest challenge facing humanity, and we are only starting to address it. Climate change scenarios indicate that poor people in developing countries will be particularly neg ...
We use three rounds of a rich panel data set to investigate the determinants of household fuel ch... more We use three rounds of a rich panel data set to investigate the determinants of household fuel choice and energy transition in urban Ethiopia. We observe that energy transition did not occur following economic growth in Ethiopia during the past decade. Regression results from a random effects multinomial logit model, which controls for unobserved household heterogeneity, show that households’ economic status, price of alternative energy sources, and education are important determinants of fuel choice in urban Ethiopia. The results also suggest the use of multiple fuels, or “fuel stacking behavior.” We argue that policy makers could target these variables to encourage transition to cleaner energy sources.
We use three rounds of a rich panel data set to investigate the determinants of household fuel ch... more We use three rounds of a rich panel data set to investigate the determinants of household fuel choice and energy transition in urban Ethiopia. We observe that energy transition did not occur following economic growth in Ethiopia during the past decade. Regression results from a random effects multinomial logit model, which controls for unobserved household heterogeneity, show that households’ economic status, price of alternative energy sources, and education are important determinants of fuel choice in urban Ethiopia. The results also suggest the use of multiple fuels, or “fuel stacking behavior.” We argue that policy makers could target these variables to encourage transition to cleaner energy sources.
Water Resources and Economics, 2021
Because the main modes of transmission of the COVID-19 virus are respiration and contact, WHO rec... more Because the main modes of transmission of the COVID-19 virus are respiration and contact, WHO recommends frequent washing of hands with soap under running water for at least 20 s. This article investigates how the level of concern about COVID-19 affects the likelihood of washing hands frequently in sub-Saharan Africa. We discuss the implication of the findings for water-scarce environment. The study makes use of a unique survey dataset from 12 sub-Saharan African countries collected in April 2020 (first round) and May 2020 (second round) and employs an extended ordered probit model with endogenous covariate. The results show that the level of concern about the spread of the virus increases the likelihood of washing hands with soap under running water for a minimum of 20 s at least five times a day. The increase in the probability of handwashing due to concern about COVID-19, ranges from 3% for Benin to 6.3% for South Africa. The results also show heterogeneous effects across gender- and age-groups, locality and various water sources. However, in Africa, the sustainability of the handwashing protocol could be threatened by the severe water scarcity that exists in the region. To sustain frequent handwashing, sub-Saharan Africa needs an effective strategy for water management and supply.
Agricultural Adaptation to Climate Change in Africa, 2018
The Environment for Development(EfD) initiative is an environmental economics program focused on ... more The Environment for Development(EfD) initiative is an environmental economics program focused on international research collaboration, policy advice, and academic training. It supports centers in Central
Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2019
We have combined farm household panel data, weather data and discount rates, as measured by a hyp... more We have combined farm household panel data, weather data and discount rates, as measured by a hypothetical survey question, to estimate the impact of income on discounting. This paper has found that income variation driven by anomalies in rainfall during the main growing season is a strong predictor of farmers' subjective discount rates. Farmers prefer a smaller immediate reward to a larger deferred one when affected by negative income shocks, while they display lower discount rates when the income shocks are positive. We have also found that higher discount rates are negatively correlated with profitable agricultural investments.
Energy Economics, 2016
We use three rounds of a rich panel data set to investigate the determinants of household cooking... more We use three rounds of a rich panel data set to investigate the determinants of household cooking fuel choice and energy transition in urban Ethiopia. We observe that the expected energy transition did not occur following economic growth in Ethiopia during the decade 2000-2009. Regression results from a random e ects multinomial logit model suggest that households' economic status, price of alternative energy sources, and education are important determinants of fuel choice in urban Ethiopia. The results also suggest the use of multiple fuels, or "fuel stacking behavior" by households. We argue that policy makers could target these policy levers to encourage transition to cleaner energy sources.
Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 2016
Land conflicts in developing countries are costly. An important policy goal is to create respect ... more Land conflicts in developing countries are costly. An important policy goal is to create respect for borders. This often involves mandatory, expensive interventions. We propose a new policy design, which in theory promotes neighborly relations at low cost. A salient feature is the option to bypass regulation through consensus. The key idea combines the insight that social preferences transform social dilemmas into coordination problems with the logic of forward induction. As a first, low-cost pass at empirical evaluation, we conduct an experiment among farmers in the Ethiopian highlands, a region exhibiting features typical of countries where borders are often disputed. Our results suggest that a low-cost land delimitation based on neighborly recognition of borders could deliver a desired low-conflict situation if accompanied by an optional higher cost demarcation process.
Agricultural Investment and Productivity: Building Sustainability in East Africa (Environment for... more Agricultural Investment and Productivity: Building Sustainability in East Africa (Environment for Development) Agricultural Investment and Productivity provides a deep and systematic look at the opportunities for and constraints to investments in sustainable agriculture in East Africa, offering important insights into what works and how to analyze agricultural investments in one of the poorest regions of the world. The book critically examines the reasons behind East Africa's stagnant agricultural productivity over the past forty-five years, using the primary lens of investments in fertilizers, seeds, and sustainable land management technologies, These investments have a tremendous impact on production volume, ultimately affecting the income of millions of families throughout the region.
The Political Economy of Evaluation, 1994
This case is concerned with the nationwide soil conservation programme (SCP) in Kenya, supported ... more This case is concerned with the nationwide soil conservation programme (SCP) in Kenya, supported by Sweden, through SIDA. Since its inception in 1974, it has developed into a vast rural development scheme, essential to Kenya’s agriculture, currently covering all districts in the country and estimated as supporting 1.1 million farms in need of soil conservation. The SCP comprises many components which call for a wide range of adequate evaluation criteria. The current main objectives, though, are economically related, which renders it of the utmost importance to apply evaluations complying with those.
Most studies of subjective well-being in developing countries use cross-sectional data, which mak... more Most studies of subjective well-being in developing countries use cross-sectional data, which makes it difficult to control for unobserved individual heterogeneity. In this paper, we use three rounds of panel data and robust non-linear panel data models to investigate the trends and determinants of life satisfaction in urban Ethiopia. Although Ethiopia exhibited rapid economic growth during the analyzed period, the average reported level of life satisfaction declined. Regression results show that despite the significant difference between urban Ethiopia and industrialized countries in terms of economic and social conditions, many of the determinants of life satisfaction are similar. This includes, age, marital status, health, unemployment, economic status, relative position and educational achievement. Our results also indicate that both individual (respondent) and household level versions of these variables are important determinants of life satisfaction. This provides some evidence on the interdependence of individual and household subjective well-being in developing countries. The fact that rapid economic growth was accompanied by a decline in citizens' average reported level of life satisfaction brings the pro-poorness of the recent economic growth in Ethiopia into question. We argue that economic growth that trickles down to the poor and ensures creation of stable jobs would be welfare enhancing.
Environment and Development Economics, 2014
This article reviews the history of the Environment for Development (EfD) initiative, its activit... more This article reviews the history of the Environment for Development (EfD) initiative, its activities in capacity building and policy-oriented research, and case studies at its centres in Chile, China, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania. EfD promotes research-based policies to manage natural resources as engines of development. Since 1991, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has provided funding for students from developing countries to earn a PhD at the Environmental Economics Unit (EEU) of the University of Gothenburg. Returning home, these economists face institutional and academic gaps that limit the adoption of research-based policies. In response, the first EfD centre was founded in 2004, and six more followed. Research focuses on agriculture, climate, fisheries, parks, wildlife, forestry, energy and policy design. This has yielded 200 peer-reviewed articles. Successful policy outcomes depend on relationships with policy makers, c...
Climate change is the greatest challenge facing humanity, and we are only starting to address it.... more Climate change is the greatest challenge facing humanity, and we are only starting to address it. Climate change scenarios indicate that poor people in developing countries will be particularly neg ...
World Development, 2014
Using panel data spanning 15 years, this paper investigates the persistence and correlates of sub... more Using panel data spanning 15 years, this paper investigates the persistence and correlates of subjective and consumption poverty in urban Ethiopia. Despite the decline in consumption poverty in recent years, which has been linked to rapid economic growth, subjective poverty has remained largely unchanged. Dynamic probit regression results show that households with a history of past poverty continue to perceive themselves as poor even if their material consumption improves. Our results also suggest that the relative economic position of households is a strong determinant of subjective poverty, and having at least some type of employment reduces the likelihood that households will perceive themselves as poor, even if they remain in objective poverty. Receiving remittances from abroad, on the other hand, does not reduce perceived poverty, even if it raises material consumption. We argue that any analysis to measure the impact of growth on welfare should encompass subjective measures as well.
Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2019
We have combined farm household panel data, weather data and discount rates, as measured by a hyp... more We have combined farm household panel data, weather data and discount rates, as measured by a hypothetical survey question, to estimate the impact of income on discounting. This paper has found that income variation driven by anomalies in rainfall during the main growing season is a strong predictor of farmers' subjective discount rates. Farmers prefer a smaller immediate reward to a larger deferred one when affected by negative income shocks, while they display lower discount rates when the income shocks are positive. We have also found that higher discount rates are negatively correlated with profitable agricultural investments.
The Political Economy of Evaluation, 1994
This case is concerned with the nationwide soil conservation programme (SCP) in Kenya, supported ... more This case is concerned with the nationwide soil conservation programme (SCP) in Kenya, supported by Sweden, through SIDA. Since its inception in 1974, it has developed into a vast rural development scheme, essential to Kenya’s agriculture, currently covering all districts in the country and estimated as supporting 1.1 million farms in need of soil conservation. The SCP comprises many components which call for a wide range of adequate evaluation criteria. The current main objectives, though, are economically related, which renders it of the utmost importance to apply evaluations complying with those.
The Journal of Socio-Economics, 2011
Climate change is the greatest challenge facing humanity, and we are only starting to address it.... more Climate change is the greatest challenge facing humanity, and we are only starting to address it. Climate change scenarios indicate that poor people in developing countries will be particularly neg ...
We use three rounds of a rich panel data set to investigate the determinants of household fuel ch... more We use three rounds of a rich panel data set to investigate the determinants of household fuel choice and energy transition in urban Ethiopia. We observe that energy transition did not occur following economic growth in Ethiopia during the past decade. Regression results from a random effects multinomial logit model, which controls for unobserved household heterogeneity, show that households’ economic status, price of alternative energy sources, and education are important determinants of fuel choice in urban Ethiopia. The results also suggest the use of multiple fuels, or “fuel stacking behavior.” We argue that policy makers could target these variables to encourage transition to cleaner energy sources.
We use three rounds of a rich panel data set to investigate the determinants of household fuel ch... more We use three rounds of a rich panel data set to investigate the determinants of household fuel choice and energy transition in urban Ethiopia. We observe that energy transition did not occur following economic growth in Ethiopia during the past decade. Regression results from a random effects multinomial logit model, which controls for unobserved household heterogeneity, show that households’ economic status, price of alternative energy sources, and education are important determinants of fuel choice in urban Ethiopia. The results also suggest the use of multiple fuels, or “fuel stacking behavior.” We argue that policy makers could target these variables to encourage transition to cleaner energy sources.
Water Resources and Economics, 2021
Because the main modes of transmission of the COVID-19 virus are respiration and contact, WHO rec... more Because the main modes of transmission of the COVID-19 virus are respiration and contact, WHO recommends frequent washing of hands with soap under running water for at least 20 s. This article investigates how the level of concern about COVID-19 affects the likelihood of washing hands frequently in sub-Saharan Africa. We discuss the implication of the findings for water-scarce environment. The study makes use of a unique survey dataset from 12 sub-Saharan African countries collected in April 2020 (first round) and May 2020 (second round) and employs an extended ordered probit model with endogenous covariate. The results show that the level of concern about the spread of the virus increases the likelihood of washing hands with soap under running water for a minimum of 20 s at least five times a day. The increase in the probability of handwashing due to concern about COVID-19, ranges from 3% for Benin to 6.3% for South Africa. The results also show heterogeneous effects across gender- and age-groups, locality and various water sources. However, in Africa, the sustainability of the handwashing protocol could be threatened by the severe water scarcity that exists in the region. To sustain frequent handwashing, sub-Saharan Africa needs an effective strategy for water management and supply.
Agricultural Adaptation to Climate Change in Africa, 2018
The Environment for Development(EfD) initiative is an environmental economics program focused on ... more The Environment for Development(EfD) initiative is an environmental economics program focused on international research collaboration, policy advice, and academic training. It supports centers in Central
Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2019
We have combined farm household panel data, weather data and discount rates, as measured by a hyp... more We have combined farm household panel data, weather data and discount rates, as measured by a hypothetical survey question, to estimate the impact of income on discounting. This paper has found that income variation driven by anomalies in rainfall during the main growing season is a strong predictor of farmers' subjective discount rates. Farmers prefer a smaller immediate reward to a larger deferred one when affected by negative income shocks, while they display lower discount rates when the income shocks are positive. We have also found that higher discount rates are negatively correlated with profitable agricultural investments.
Energy Economics, 2016
We use three rounds of a rich panel data set to investigate the determinants of household cooking... more We use three rounds of a rich panel data set to investigate the determinants of household cooking fuel choice and energy transition in urban Ethiopia. We observe that the expected energy transition did not occur following economic growth in Ethiopia during the decade 2000-2009. Regression results from a random e ects multinomial logit model suggest that households' economic status, price of alternative energy sources, and education are important determinants of fuel choice in urban Ethiopia. The results also suggest the use of multiple fuels, or "fuel stacking behavior" by households. We argue that policy makers could target these policy levers to encourage transition to cleaner energy sources.
Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 2016
Land conflicts in developing countries are costly. An important policy goal is to create respect ... more Land conflicts in developing countries are costly. An important policy goal is to create respect for borders. This often involves mandatory, expensive interventions. We propose a new policy design, which in theory promotes neighborly relations at low cost. A salient feature is the option to bypass regulation through consensus. The key idea combines the insight that social preferences transform social dilemmas into coordination problems with the logic of forward induction. As a first, low-cost pass at empirical evaluation, we conduct an experiment among farmers in the Ethiopian highlands, a region exhibiting features typical of countries where borders are often disputed. Our results suggest that a low-cost land delimitation based on neighborly recognition of borders could deliver a desired low-conflict situation if accompanied by an optional higher cost demarcation process.
Agricultural Investment and Productivity: Building Sustainability in East Africa (Environment for... more Agricultural Investment and Productivity: Building Sustainability in East Africa (Environment for Development) Agricultural Investment and Productivity provides a deep and systematic look at the opportunities for and constraints to investments in sustainable agriculture in East Africa, offering important insights into what works and how to analyze agricultural investments in one of the poorest regions of the world. The book critically examines the reasons behind East Africa's stagnant agricultural productivity over the past forty-five years, using the primary lens of investments in fertilizers, seeds, and sustainable land management technologies, These investments have a tremendous impact on production volume, ultimately affecting the income of millions of families throughout the region.
The Political Economy of Evaluation, 1994
This case is concerned with the nationwide soil conservation programme (SCP) in Kenya, supported ... more This case is concerned with the nationwide soil conservation programme (SCP) in Kenya, supported by Sweden, through SIDA. Since its inception in 1974, it has developed into a vast rural development scheme, essential to Kenya’s agriculture, currently covering all districts in the country and estimated as supporting 1.1 million farms in need of soil conservation. The SCP comprises many components which call for a wide range of adequate evaluation criteria. The current main objectives, though, are economically related, which renders it of the utmost importance to apply evaluations complying with those.
Most studies of subjective well-being in developing countries use cross-sectional data, which mak... more Most studies of subjective well-being in developing countries use cross-sectional data, which makes it difficult to control for unobserved individual heterogeneity. In this paper, we use three rounds of panel data and robust non-linear panel data models to investigate the trends and determinants of life satisfaction in urban Ethiopia. Although Ethiopia exhibited rapid economic growth during the analyzed period, the average reported level of life satisfaction declined. Regression results show that despite the significant difference between urban Ethiopia and industrialized countries in terms of economic and social conditions, many of the determinants of life satisfaction are similar. This includes, age, marital status, health, unemployment, economic status, relative position and educational achievement. Our results also indicate that both individual (respondent) and household level versions of these variables are important determinants of life satisfaction. This provides some evidence on the interdependence of individual and household subjective well-being in developing countries. The fact that rapid economic growth was accompanied by a decline in citizens' average reported level of life satisfaction brings the pro-poorness of the recent economic growth in Ethiopia into question. We argue that economic growth that trickles down to the poor and ensures creation of stable jobs would be welfare enhancing.
Environment and Development Economics, 2014
This article reviews the history of the Environment for Development (EfD) initiative, its activit... more This article reviews the history of the Environment for Development (EfD) initiative, its activities in capacity building and policy-oriented research, and case studies at its centres in Chile, China, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania. EfD promotes research-based policies to manage natural resources as engines of development. Since 1991, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has provided funding for students from developing countries to earn a PhD at the Environmental Economics Unit (EEU) of the University of Gothenburg. Returning home, these economists face institutional and academic gaps that limit the adoption of research-based policies. In response, the first EfD centre was founded in 2004, and six more followed. Research focuses on agriculture, climate, fisheries, parks, wildlife, forestry, energy and policy design. This has yielded 200 peer-reviewed articles. Successful policy outcomes depend on relationships with policy makers, c...
Climate change is the greatest challenge facing humanity, and we are only starting to address it.... more Climate change is the greatest challenge facing humanity, and we are only starting to address it. Climate change scenarios indicate that poor people in developing countries will be particularly neg ...
World Development, 2014
Using panel data spanning 15 years, this paper investigates the persistence and correlates of sub... more Using panel data spanning 15 years, this paper investigates the persistence and correlates of subjective and consumption poverty in urban Ethiopia. Despite the decline in consumption poverty in recent years, which has been linked to rapid economic growth, subjective poverty has remained largely unchanged. Dynamic probit regression results show that households with a history of past poverty continue to perceive themselves as poor even if their material consumption improves. Our results also suggest that the relative economic position of households is a strong determinant of subjective poverty, and having at least some type of employment reduces the likelihood that households will perceive themselves as poor, even if they remain in objective poverty. Receiving remittances from abroad, on the other hand, does not reduce perceived poverty, even if it raises material consumption. We argue that any analysis to measure the impact of growth on welfare should encompass subjective measures as well.
Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2019
We have combined farm household panel data, weather data and discount rates, as measured by a hyp... more We have combined farm household panel data, weather data and discount rates, as measured by a hypothetical survey question, to estimate the impact of income on discounting. This paper has found that income variation driven by anomalies in rainfall during the main growing season is a strong predictor of farmers' subjective discount rates. Farmers prefer a smaller immediate reward to a larger deferred one when affected by negative income shocks, while they display lower discount rates when the income shocks are positive. We have also found that higher discount rates are negatively correlated with profitable agricultural investments.
The Political Economy of Evaluation, 1994
This case is concerned with the nationwide soil conservation programme (SCP) in Kenya, supported ... more This case is concerned with the nationwide soil conservation programme (SCP) in Kenya, supported by Sweden, through SIDA. Since its inception in 1974, it has developed into a vast rural development scheme, essential to Kenya’s agriculture, currently covering all districts in the country and estimated as supporting 1.1 million farms in need of soil conservation. The SCP comprises many components which call for a wide range of adequate evaluation criteria. The current main objectives, though, are economically related, which renders it of the utmost importance to apply evaluations complying with those.
The Journal of Socio-Economics, 2011