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Business Issues: Research and Action Agenda. IAEE Pre-Conference Workshop on Clean Cooking Fuels 6/17/2008. Understanding Markets. Markets are naturally segmented by income but distorted and thin Best served by different business models and actors Research Agenda: Demand Elasticities
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Business Issues:Research and Action Agenda IAEE Pre-Conference Workshop on Clean Cooking Fuels 6/17/2008
Understanding Markets • Markets are naturally segmented by income but distorted and thin • Best served by different business models and actors • Research Agenda: • Demand Elasticities • Systematic study across cases of success and failure • Leakage across segments due to distortions (e.g. subsidies) • Action Agenda • Work with MNCs doing market research to obtain and use data appropriately
Incentives • Voluntary incentives versus mandatory change • Research Agenda: • Better understanding of incentive mechanisms (economic and social) • Action Agenda: • Preparation of Bulletin and Workshop Session
Role of Manufacturers • Quality control issues • Incentives to enter the market • Research Agenda: • Study of manufacturer promotion programs • Action Agenda: • Targeting manufacturers with incentive programs (e.g. VAT reductions) tied with things like quality standards • Highlight programs that are focused on manufacturers
Role of Large Corporations • In theory have all that is necessary to work in this area, but don’t in reality. • Question of who focal point is that links MNCs to consumer • Research Agenda: • Use of different types of local diffusion agents, linked to technology diffusion literature • Look at how non-energy BoP work being done by MNCs • Possible impact of supply chain improvement • Action Agenda • Reach out to MNCs that are currently working in BoP and those that have a natural alliance for this problem
Micro-Finance • Not always match between this problem and usual micro-finance models • Research Agenda: • Study few cases that have been tried • Action Agenda • Development of new micro-finance models
New Philanthropists • Low awareness among new philanthropists • Action Agenda: • Targeted awareness raising
Larger Energy Users • Small businesses and institutions • Higher ability to pay • Can demonstrate technology principles • Research Agenda: • Understand role in technology diffusion • Understand specific needs • Action Agenda: • More targeted programs
Supply Chain Issues • Rise in input prices for manufacture • Change in valuation of local goods • Fluctuations in fuel prices • Research Agenda: • How to create energy portfolios, esp. in urban • Impact on spurring innovation in materials, etc. • Change in biomass supply economics when create demand
Awareness Raising • Is it necessary to highlight health issue? • Are aspirational goals a better motivator? • Research Agenda: • What are the motivators? • What types of campaigns work and why? • Action Agenda: • Develop awareness campaigns • Strengthen link to stove design