THE ENERGY TRANSITION

The paper considers the substitution of traditional biomass fuels by modern energy sources in the household sector of developing countries. It demonstrates that this process is strongly dependent on urban size and, within cities, on household income, since the main constraints on the transition are poor access to modern fuels and the high cost of appliances for using them. Relative fuel prices appear to be of lesser importance. The paper concludes with a review of the reasons why policymakers might wish to influence the pace of the transition and the measures which, from case history experience, have proved to be effective or to be expensive failures.