Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of remittance inflows (remittances) on electricity consumption and electric power losses in Jamaica.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use annual data from 1976 to 2014 and apply vector error correction modelling, Granger causality testing and impulse response analysis.

Findings

First, the authors find that there is co-integration between remittances and the energy variables, namely electricity consumption and electric power losses. Second, short-run Granger causality exists between the energy variables and remittances. This causality is bidirectional between the energy variables and positive changes in remittances, but it is unidirectional running from the energy variables to negative movements in remittances. Third, the authors find that in the long-run remittances have a negative relationship with electric power losses and a positive relationship with the consumption of electricity.

Practical implications

Findings from this paper will help to elucidate the relationship between electricity consumption, and electric power losses, and remittances.

Social implications

The problem of electric power losses is acute in Jamaica and it is mostly due to theft. At the same time, Jamaica receives significant remittances. Social policy could have a role to encourage the use of remittances to help stem the theft of electricity.

Originality/value

This is the first study that examines the relationships between remittances, electricity consumption and electric power losses.

中文翻译：

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牙买加的汇款、用电量和电力损失

目的

本文的目的是研究汇款流入（汇款）对牙买加电力消耗和电力损失的影响。

设计/方法/方法

作者使用 1976 年至 2014 年的年度数据，并应用矢量误差校正建模、格兰杰因果检验和脉冲响应分析。

发现

首先，作者发现汇款与能源变量（即电力消耗和电力损失）之间存在协整关系。其次，能源变量与汇款之间存在短期格兰杰因果关系。这种因果关系在能源变量和汇款的正变化之间是双向的，但从能源变量到汇款的负变化是单向的。第三，作者发现，从长期来看，汇款与电力损失呈负相关，与用电量呈正相关。

实际影响

本文的研究结果将有助于阐明电力消耗、电力损失和汇款之间的关系。

社会影响

牙买加的电力损失问题很严重，主要是由于盗窃。与此同时，牙买加收到大量汇款。社会政策可以发挥作用，鼓励使用汇款来帮助阻止电力盗窃。

原创性/价值

这是第一项研究汇款、电力消耗和电力损失之间关系的研究。