Energy in The Global South

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Since the 1990s, many transition and developing economies have initiated energy sector ambitious reform programmes with the objective of introducing market conditions, regulations, institutions, and policies to increase the efficiency of their energy sectors, social welfare, and economic growth. Despite some success in fostering private sector participation and the creation of competitive markets, in general, energy sector reforms have not yet delivered the promised outcomes. The energy sector in developing countries is still characterised by high subsidies, investment constraints, low service quality and electrification rates, high technical and commercial losses, and capacity shortages, among other issues. In this context, global climate goals impose an additional challenge to countries that need to focus on their energy requirements and social-economic development. 

CSEI participates in diverse research that focuses on energy issues in the developing world. These are some concrete topics that are covered in this research area:

  • Energy sector reform and regulation
  • Energy, economic development, environment, and climate change
  • Institutions, corruption, social welfare, and development
  • Electrification and energy poverty
  • Energy for households, marginalised groups, women, and refugees

Work in progress

  • Amin, S., Jamasb, T., Llorca, M., Marsiliani, L. and Renström, T.I. (2021), Decarbonisation policies and energy price reforms in Bangladesh. Work in Progress.
  • Amin, S., Jamasb, T., Llorca, M., Marsiliani, L. and Renström, T.I. (2021), Unlocking opportunities for the circular economy: The case of Waste to Energy (WtE) in Bangladesh. Work in Progress.
  • Amin, S., Jamasb, T., Llorca, M., Marsiliani, L., Renström, T.I. and Sarkar, A. (2021), “Captive power, market access and macroeconomic performance: Reforming the Bangladesh electricity sector”, Energy Economics, 102, 105468.
  • Imam, M.I., Jamasb, T. and Llorca, M. (2021), Political economy of reform and regulation in the electricity sector of Sub-Saharan Africa (submitted).

Selected publications

  • Amin, S., Jamasb, T., Llorca, M., Marsiliani, L. and Renström, T.I. (2019), “Combining private and public resources: Captive power plants and electricity sector development in Bangladesh”, Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, DOI: 10.1080/1540496X.2019.1703107.
  • Imam, M.I., Jamasb, T. and Llorca, M. (2019), “Sector reforms and institutional corruption: Evidence from electricity industry in Sub-Saharan Africa”, Energy Policy, 129, 532-545.
  • Jamasb, T., Llorca, M., Khetrapal, P. and Thakur, T. (2021), “Institutions and performance of regulated firms: Evidence from electricity distribution in India”, Economic Analysis and Policy, 70, 68-82.
  • Sedai, A.K., Nepal, R., and Jamasb, T. (2022). Electrification and Socio-Economic Empowerment of Women in India, The Energy Journal. Volume 43, No. 2, 217-240.
  • Madathil, D., Pandi V, R., Nair, M.G., Jamasb, T., and Thakur, T. (2021). Consumer-Focused Solar-Grid Net Zero Energy Buildings: A Multi-Objective Weighted Sum Optimization and Application for India, Sustainable Production and Consumption, Volume 27, July, 2101-2111.
  • Madathil, D., Pandi V, R., Nair, M.G., Jamasb, T., and Thakur, T. (2021). Net Zero Energy in a Residential Building Using Heuristic Optimization Solution, Journal of Control, Automation and Electrical Systems, Volume 32, 458-471.
  • Amin, S., Jamasb, T., and Nepal, R. (2021). Regulatory Reform and the Relative Efficacy of Government versus Private Investment on Energy Consumption in South Asia, Economic Analysis and Policy, Volume 69, March, 421-433.
  • Sedai, A.K., Nepal, R., Jamasb, T. (2021). Flickering Lifelines: Electrification and Household Welfare in India, Energy Economics, Volume 94, February, 104975.
  • Baumli, K. and Jamasb, T. (2020). Assessing Private Investment in African Renewable Energy Infrastructure: A Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Approach, Sustainability, Volume 12, 9425.
  • Sen, A., Nepal, R., and Jamasb, T. (2018). Have Model, Will Reform: Assessing Electricity Reforms in Non-OECD Asian Economies, The Energy Journal, Volume, 39, Issue 4, 181-209.
  • Singh, A., Jamasb, T., Nepal, R., and Toman, M. (2018). Electricity Cooperation in South Asia: Barriers to Cross-Border Trade, Energy Policy, Volume 120, September, 741-748.
  • Nepal, R., Sen, A., and Jamasb, T. (2018). Small Systems, Big Targets: Power Sector Reforms and Renewable Energy in Small Systems, Energy Policy, Volume 116, May, 119-129.
  • Jamasb, T., Thakur, T., and Bag, B. (2018). Smart Electricity Distribution Networks, Business Models, and Application for Developing Countries, Energy Policy., Volume 114, March, 22-29.

For further information, please contact:

Manuel Llorca