Diffusion of Electricity Consumption Practices in Mexico

Ana Escoto Castillo and Landy Sánchez Peña
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Ana Escoto Castillo: School of Political and Social Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Circuito Mario de La Cueva s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Landy Sánchez Peña: Center for Demographic, Urban and Environmental Studies, El Colegio de Mexico, Entronque Picacho-Ajusco 20, Fuentes del Pedregal, Tlalpan, Mexico City 010740, Mexico

Social Sciences, 2017, vol. 6, issue 4, 1-24

Abstract: In recent decades, residential energy consumption has grown in Mexico despite high poverty levels. While inequalities in energy have been documented, less attention has been paid to practices of consumption. Particularly, we sustain that it is necessary to account for changes in associated behaviors, which shape energy use, such as the acquisition of electrical appliances. This paper analyzes if there is evidence of diffusion of energy practices from higher to lower-income households. We hypothesize that more intensive energy practices expand across groups beyond their demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Employing a harmonized dataset of thirteen Income and Expenditure Household Surveys, we assess changes in electrical appliances and electricity consumption. Using latent class analysis, we construct energy profiles that identify underlying consumption behaviors from sociodemographic and residential characteristics. We find support for the argument that intensive energy practices expanded from high to lower socioeconomic groups. While this trend reflects improvements in living conditions in Mexico, it also highlights the environmental challenges that increasing consumption poses for sustainable development goals.

Keywords: energy consumption; sustainable consumption; consumer practices; diffusion of consumer practices; sustainable development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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