Utilization of Soft Energy: Approach to Eco-Development in Rural Bangladesh

Md. Hafiz Iqbal, Md Masumur Rahaman

Abstract


This study has given efforts to detect socio-economic-demographic characteristics to provide the utilization of soft energy and estimates truncated mean willingness-to-pay (WTP) for the economic valuation of soft energy. A contingent valuation survey was carried out according to the NOAA guidelines to fulfill the research objectives. The survey involved 307 villagers from twenty villages of Pabna district. The zero-inflated ordered logistic model was employed to detect the significant determinants of WTP for soft energy utilization. The model results showed that age, family composition, years of schooling, monthly income, social mobilization, and payment are the important contributors in determining WTP for the utilization of soft energy. The lower value of the truncated mean of monthly WTP (Tk. 2177.60 or US$: 25.69) compared to general mean WTP does not necessarily imply low demand for soft energy, as the findings from E(WTP) illustrate potential demand for soft energy in rural Bangladesh.

Keywords


contingent valuation; eco-development; energy economics; low carbon society; soft energy

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References


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