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Energy poverty and subjective well-being in China: New evidence from the China Family Panel Studies

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  • Nie, Peng
  • Li, Qiaoge
  • Sousa-Poza, Alfonso

Abstract

Using the 2012–2018 waves of the China Family Panel Studies, we investigate the impact of energy poverty (EP) on subjective well-being (SWB) among Chinese adults aged 18 and over. In addition to documenting EP rates in the range of 13.2% to 35.3% (dependent on measurement used), we show that EP leads to higher levels of depression. These results are robust to both alternative EP and SWB measures and to a series of estimation approaches that control for endogeneity. Structural equation modeling of the underlying mechanisms shows that individual self-reported health and household food expenditure mediate the EP-SWB relation.

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  • Nie, Peng & Li, Qiaoge & Sousa-Poza, Alfonso, 2021. "Energy poverty and subjective well-being in China: New evidence from the China Family Panel Studies," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:103:y:2021:i:c:s0140988321004242
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2021.105548
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    Keywords

    Energy poverty; Depression; Life satisfaction; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • R21 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Housing Demand

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