The IGC is celebrating its 10-year anniversary by showcasing our most transformational growth ideas from the past decade. Running until December 2019, each week will focus on a key component of economic growth. This week focuses on expanding energy access.

1. Energy for all 2. Tax for development
Publication

Electricity is not a right: How social norms constrain access to electricity

The norm that electricity is a right, as opposed to a private good, constrains access to energy and leads to widespread rationing in developing countries. Many developing...

View the publication
View the publication
Case Study: Energy

Charging ahead: Prepaid electricity

Our research shows that prepaid electricity can benefit both customers and utility companies, ultimately helping to expand access to energy.

Publication - Sub-thematic summary

Energy: A summary of IGC research

This sub-thematic summary highlights the IGC’s research on energy over the past 10 years. Access to reliable and affordable energy, as enunciated in Sustainable...

Energy is a crucial input along the journey of development. In developing countries, getting people to pay for electricity is one of the biggest obstacles to expanding access to energy. Our most influential research in this area looks at the social norm of electricity as a right and its unintended consequences for expanding access, demand for and supply of energy, and the social and economic impacts of electrification.
Show more