Masters Degrees (Economics)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Economics) by Author "Barberton, Conrad Roy Mitford"

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    The impacts of the domestic energy transition process on the natural environment and on household welfare
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1996-03) Barberton, Conrad Roy Mitford; Van der Berg, Servaas; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economics. Dept. of Economics.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of analysing the environmental welfare impacts of the domestic energy transition process together is to enhance our understanding of their integrated nature and, thereby, inform the choices that individuals, households and society as a whole make with regard to energy use. The literature presents different models of energy transition. In response to these, this study refines the definition and presents a new standard model of the domestic energy transition process, which describes how the share of different energy sources in household energy budgets change over time. It identifies a rural and an urban energy transition process and divides these into phases, each characterised by a differnt pattern of energy use. It also shows how the rural phases may be linked to the urban phases by urbanisation. The literaturehas focused on identifying the causes of energy transition. THis study reviews these causes, but goes one step further by examining the various impacts of the process. Since the ultimate aim is to seek ways of optimising the impacts of the domestic energy transition process, it is important to know what factors move the process forward and also the consequences of changing energy patterns. The type and amount of energy households have implications for both the welfare and the environmental impacts of energy use. The study standardises and summarises energy use data from various studies. It is presented in terms of nett energy and useful energy households derive from each energy source. Useful energy is regarded as the better indicator of welfare derived from energy use. The analysis shows an increasing trend in energy use across the entire domestic energy transition process as the energy sources households use become more affordable, versatile and convenient. The environmental impacts of the sources of domestic energy and of energy conservation are examined separately. It is shown that in the early phases the impacts are mainly of local significance, but they become more important as the energy transition process proceeds. the impacts also tend to affect households directly in the early phases, but more dispersed, though not less important, in the later phases. Terreblanche's (1986) description of welfare is used for discussing the welfare impacts of domestic energy use. Two energy poverty lines are used to assess if household energy use levels meet their basic energy needs. The data indicates energy poverty is widespread in South Africa. The study also shows that many aspects of energy use are relevant to the attainment of the intermediate welfare goals of growth and efficiency, stability, equity and civilisation, as well as to people's subjective sense of welfare. Examining the environmental and welfare impacts together emphasises that to change one set will also affect the other. This needs to guide the formulation of energy policies that aim to change the domestic energy transition process. Resommendations that do exactly that are presented in the conclusion. The main emphasis is on energy conservation, since it addresses both sets of impacts in a way that minimises trade-offs.