Complementary Inputs and Industrial Development: Can Lower Electricity Prices Improve Energy Efficiency?

The transition from traditional labor intensive to modern capital intensive production is a key factor for industrial development. Using half a million observations from Indian manufacturing plants, I analyze the effects of a secular decrease in industrial electricity prices through the lens of a model with technology choices and complementarities between electricity and capital inputs. Using instrumental variables, I show how lower industrial electricity prices can increase both labor productivity and electricity productivity. Apart from positive effects on firm economic and environmental performance, cost-price pass-through significantly benefited consumers, and the productivity improvements limited increases in carbon emissions.