Research Nik Stoop

Abstract

To curb the climate crisis, we need to promote green energy. Economic research can play a key role in evaluating different policy options. In recent years, Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) rose to prominence in effectiveness research. However, the issue of scalability remains understudied: what happens when successful experiments are scaled? Limited by their short-term micro-data, RCTs do not have an answer to this question. I seek to contribute to closing this knowledge gap by studying the scaling up of a green energy policy in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Goma's 1.1 million inhabitants mainly use charcoal for cooking, which not only poses an individual health hazard, but also threatens Virunga National Park. In an attempt to safeguard the Park, Virunga Energies (VE) is distributing Electric Pressure Cookers (EPCs) to clients connected to its electric grid. After a successful pilot in 2021 and an RCT in 2022, VE decided to scale up the EPC distribution. I will study whether the pilot results hold in the longer term, or whether maintenance and repair issues set in, and – if so – how they can be addressed. In addition, I will study whether the large-scale EPC distribution slows down deforestation, or whether second-round effects in the charcoal market nullify this intended effect. Finally, I will study whether armed actors, who currently control the charcoal trade, are weakened and violence abates, or whether they adapt and turn to other illicit income sources.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Verpoorten Marijke
• Co-promoter: Stoop Nik
• Fellow: Collart Lara

Research team(s)

• Development processes, actors and policies

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Around 2.6 billion people remain dependent on biomass fuel for cooking. This has severe health, budgetary and environmental consequences. Electric cooking is a healthier, cheaper, and cleaner alternative. It has also become a feasible one, given the recent improvements in reliable electricity access. But, while both development and environmental actors are now seeking to untap the potential of eCooking, very little is known about barriers to its adoption, and whether it can deliver on its promises. We study the uptake and impact of Electric Pressure Cookers (EPCs) in the city of Goma, North-Kivu, where people's reliance on charcoal entails huge individual and social costs. Here, the burning of charcoal not only constitutes a health hazard, but also severely exacerbates poverty, as it drains one third of household budgets. In terms of social costs, charcoal reliance not only threatens the nearby Virunga National Park; it also perpetuates conflict as armed groups seek to control its production and trade. To co-create the first experimental evidence on EPC uptake and livelihood impact, we team up with a local electricity provider and randomly distribute 1,000 EPCs. We include different treatment arms to learn about factors affecting adoption, including financial and informational constraints and social learning. The experiment will entail lessons for scaling up. When scaled up, we will be able to also study social benefits in terms of deforestation and peace.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Verpoorten Marijke
• Fellow: Stoop Nik

Research team(s)

• Development processes, actors and policies

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

We measure the impact of electricity provision on economic development, security and conservation. Our case study focuses on rural and urban communities nearby Virunga National Park, in DR Congo. Impoverished by armed conflict, the communities complement their livelihoods with the park's resources to make ends meet. These resources are also illicitly exploited by several armed groups that have their hideouts within the park's boundaries. The electricity rollout is implemented by Virunga Alliance. According to their theory of change, electrification will spur development, which will in turn reduce people's reliance on the park's resources and their support for rebel groups. The theory of change finds support in the literature, but needs further testing. To learn about the causal effect of electrification, we designed an impact evaluation that compares time trends in socio-economic development, conservation and security across treatment and control localities. Treatment localities are being connected in the period 2019-2020; control localities only at a later stage. We are currently halfway the baseline data collection in treatment and control localities before the onset of electrification. The final baseline data will contain census information on about 72,000 households and 3,200 firms, and a detailed structured survey among a stratified random sample of 2,400 households and 800 firms. We are seeking to fund follow-up research in order to complete the impact evaluation.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Verpoorten Marijke
• Co-promoter: Stoop Nik

Research team(s)

• Development processes, actors and policies

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

We measure the impact of electricity provision on economic development, security and conservation. Our case study focuses on rural and urban communities nearby Virunga National Park, in North-Kivu, DR Congo. Impoverished by two decades of armed conflict, the communities complement their livelihoods with the park's resources to make ends meet. These resources are also illicitly exploited by at least eight armed groups that have their hide-outs within the park's boundaries. The electricity roll-out is implemented by Virunga Alliance, a public-private partnership that seeks to bring about security and conservation through development. According to Virunga's theory of change, electrification will spur development, which will in turn reduce people's reliance on the park's resources as well as their support for, and participation in, rebel groups. The theory of change finds support in the literature, but needs further testing. To learn about the causal effect of electrification, we designed an impact evaluation that exploits the gradual roll-out of electricity, in combination with a difference-in-differences estimation. The treatment localities will be connected in the period 2019-2020; the control localities only at a later stage.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Verpoorten Marijke
• Co-promoter: Stoop Nik
• Fellow: Lunanga Elie

Research team(s)

• Development processes, actors and policies

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

We measure the impact of electricity provision on economic development, security and conservation. Our case study focuses on rural and urban communities nearby Virunga National Park, in North-Kivu, DR Congo. Impoverished by two decades of armed conflict, the communities complement their livelihoods with the park's resources to make ends meet. These resources are also illicitly exploited by at least eight armed groups that have their hide-outs within the park's boundaries. The electricity roll-out is implemented by Virunga Alliance, a public-private partnership that seeks to bring about security and conservation through development. According to Virunga's theory of change, electrification will spur development, which will in turn reduce people's reliance on the park's resources as well as their support for, and participation in, rebel groups. The theory of change finds support in the literature, but needs further testing. To learn about the causal effect of electrification, we designed an impact evaluation that exploits the gradual roll-out of electricity, in combination with a difference-in-differences estimation. The treatment localities will be connected in the period 2019-2020; the control localities only at a later stage.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Verpoorten Marijke
• Fellow: Stoop Nik

Research team(s)

• Development processes, actors and policies

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

We measure the impact of electricity provision in Congolese communities nearby Virunga National Park, in North-Kivu, DR Congo. Impoverished by two decades of armed conflict, the communities complement their livelihoods with the park's resources to make ends meet. These resources are also illicitly exploited by at least eight armed groups that have their hide-outs within the park's boundaries. The electricity roll-out is implemented by Virunga Alliance, a public-private partnership that seeks to bring about security and conservation through development. According to Virunga's theory of change, electrification will spur development, which will in turn reduce the people's reliance on the park's resources as well as their support for, and participation in, rebel groups. The theory of change finds support in the literature, but needs further testing. To learn about the causal effect of electricity on economic development, security and conservation, we designed an impact evaluation that exploits the gradual roll-out of electricity, in combination with a difference-in-differences estimation. The treatment localities will be connected in the period 2019-2020; the control localities only from 2021 onwards.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Stoop Nik

Research team(s)

• Development processes, actors and policies

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The project studies the nexus between conflict, mineral resources and employment opportunities. Does the presence of mineral resources increase conflict? Why do young men fight? How can employment creation contribute to social stability? We study these questions in the context of eastern DRC, home to large stocks of mineral resource wealth, yet one of the poorest and most conflict-affected regions in the world.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Verpoorten Marijke
• Fellow: Stoop Nik

Research team(s)

• Development processes, actors and policies

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The project studies the nexus between conflict, mineral resources and employment opportunities. Does the presence of mineral resources increase conflict? Why do young men fight? How can employment creation contribute to social stability? We study these questions in the context of eastern DRC, home to large stocks of mineral resource wealth, yet one of the poorest and most conflict-affected regions in the world.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Verpoorten Marijke
• Fellow: Stoop Nik

Research team(s)

• Development processes, actors and policies

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The project focuses on the impact of sexual violence on social preferences and post-conflict reconstruction in DRC. To the best of our knowledge, this would be the first study testing the impact of sexual violence on social preferences using behavioral games.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Verpoorten Marijke
• Fellow: Stoop Nik

Research team(s)

• Development processes, actors and policies

Project type(s)

• Research Project