Gender Issues in Energy Policy and Pricing

Citation:

Parikh, GenJyoti K. 1996. “Gender Issues in Energy Policy and Pricing.” Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society 16 (3): 116–21.

Author: GenJyoti K. Parikh

Annotation:

Summary:
"The energy sector requires a large share of the national investment in developing countries (DC). People’s needs for energy are not yet met, even for basic needs and amenities, therefore, levels of national investment in this sector will be high for many decades to come. For example, in India, the energy sector has accounted for 25% to 30% allocations for every five-year plan in the last 3 decades. In addition to this capital investment, annual import requirements for the energy sector are of major concern. Oil imports require 30% to as much as 90% of the export earnings of many developing countries depending on their levels of energy utilization, resource-mix, indigenous availability of energy sources, world prices and so on. Elsewhere, (1994) I have shown that oil-imports do not provide the full picture of energy related imports because capital goods for energy such as power plants, mining equipment for fossil fuels are accounted for elsewhere. Total annual imports for the energy sector for all countries increase by substantial margins when energy is related to capital goods and included along with oil imports. Therefore, the scale of investments and imports for the energy sector is large enough to have macro-economic ramifications. Some developing countries do not have enough energy to provide every home with clean cooking fuel and light bulbs. Thus, the policies for investment, and for imports in the energy sector are two cornerstones for a country’s economic structure. The well-being of society depends heavily on decisions involving energy and finances” (Parikh 1996, 116).

Topics: Development, Economies, Gender, Infrastructure, Energy

Year: 1996