a large majority of studies indicate that hydraulic fracturing in the united states has had a strong positive economic benefit so far. the brookings institution estimates that the benefits of shale gas alone has led to a net economic benefit of $48 billion per year. most of this benefit is within the consumer and industrial sectors due to the significantly reduced prices for natural gas. other studies have suggested that the economic benefits are outweighed by the externalities and that the levelized cost of electricity (lcoe) from less carbon and water intensive sources is lower.