Fuel choice in developing countries: Evidence from Bolivia

This study examines household fuel choice and firewood use in the context of a developing country. I focus on Bolivia, where household use of firewood remains common. I analyze data from the 1989 Bolivian Integrated Household Survey, collected nationally in urban areas of Bolivia, and I look at household fuel use from a broader perspective than previous studies on Bolivia, which addressed the use of forest resources in specific towns or provinces. Building on previous studies of household fuel use in developing countries, I ask three questions relevant to the study of firewood choice and use in developing countries. (1) Are fixed costs a barrier to switching to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)? (2) What is the effect of income growth on firewood use? (3) Does female earned income influence household fuel choice?