About 40% of the world population, or 3 billion people, cook with solid fuels. Ranging from wood and dung to coal and charcoal, these fuels drastically increase indoor air pollution.

Such pollution has been directly linked with severe illnesses like pneumonia and lung cancer. 27% more children died after being exposed to pollution caused by these solid fuels. In infants the mortality was higher at 43%.

Using the data from CEEW-Columbia Survey conducted over 48 divisions, 51 districts, and 714 villages in Uttar Pradesh, India, I analyzed the probability of using LPG based on who in each household makes purchasing decisions.

The males were least likely to use LPG. The females were less so. Those who made decisions together – male and female – were more likely to use LPG.

“Others” category topped the list, so I digged deeper into it.

As shown (flipped to show decision maker types better), households where all family members made purchasing decisions together had the highest probability of using LPG, at 58.3% with standard error of fits of 8.2% and 36 respondents. The faded circles on the other decision makers like daughter in law mean nearly zero respondents responded there.

Based on this, my guess is that as more people make decisions together, the more they become likely to use LPG.

More people involved in a decision means more information that a single decision maker had not thought of. It also means challenges that had seemed insurmountable can seem more solvable, as one need not rely on his own limited means, thoughts, and feelings. And it can imply willingness to escape one’s preconceived reality of what works and what doesn’t. I’ve done further exploratory analysis, and it confirms these points.

A campaign to increase LPG use among the Uttar Pradesh residents should, therefore, first answer why certain households make decisions together. Perhaps they do so because they have more respect for one another. Or perhaps they are humbler than others and are willing to seek other opinions and change their own minds. The precise answer is beyond the scope of the study and the datasets. But once answered, drivers for those outcome variables must be found. What makes us respect one another? What makes us humble? When do we make that choice to be humble or respect others?

What can still be learned from what I have here is this: Willingness to go beyond oneself benefited the entire household. The world can use more of this.