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Understanding energy poverty drivers in Europe

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  • Ben Cheikh, Nidhaleddine
  • Ben Zaied, Younes
  • Nguyen, Duc Khuong

Abstract

This paper tackles the issue of energy poverty in an attempt to identify the key factors that would enhance the affordability of energy services. We implement a set of recent panel data techniques which enable us to capture the presence of regime shifts and time-varying relationships between energy poverty and its main drivers. Using annual data from 25 European countries over the period 2006–2019, we point out the prominent role of income level and energy price in determining access to adequate and affordable energy. This outcome depends on the degree of income inequality, the energy efficiency, and the energy transition underway. Better income distribution among households and efficient use of energy resources would alleviate energy poverty. Nevertheless, policymakers would have to pay more attention to the cost of energy transition to not worsen household access to energy services.

Suggested Citation

  • Ben Cheikh, Nidhaleddine & Ben Zaied, Younes & Nguyen, Duc Khuong, 2023. "Understanding energy poverty drivers in Europe," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:183:y:2023:i:c:s0301421523004032
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2023.113818
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    Cited by:

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Energy poverty; Income; Moderating effect; Nonlinear panel data models;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • Q43 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Energy and the Macroeconomy
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy

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