IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v16y2023i5p2089-d1075327.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Multidimensional Indicator of Energy Poverty in South Africa Using the Fuzzy Set Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Abayomi Samuel Oyekale

    (Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, North-West University Mafikeng Campus, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa)

  • Thonaeng Charity Molelekoa

    (Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, North-West University Mafikeng Campus, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa)

Abstract

The electricity supply in South Africa is characterized by load-shedding. This study analyzed the determinants of the multidimensional energy poverty index (MEPI) in South Africa. The data, which were taken from the 2019–2021 General Household Survey (GHS), were analyzed using Tobit regression. The results showed that between 2019 and 2021, the use of clean energy for cooking declined from 85.97% to 85.68%, respectively, whereas the use of clean energy for water heating declined from 87.24% in 2020 to 86.55% in 2021. Space heating with clean energy declined from 53.57% in 2019 to 50.35% in 2021. The average fuzzy MEPI was 0.143 and Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces had the highest average values with 0.180 and 0.176, respectively. In the combined dataset, the Tobit regression results showed that, compared to Western Cape, the fuzzy MEPI significantly decreased ( p < 0.01) by −0.038, 0.028, 0.045, 0.023, 0.029, 0.038, 0.037, and 0.042 for residents in Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Free State, Kwazulu-Natal, North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo provinces, respectively. In addition, the fuzzy MEPI for the Black, Coloured, Asian, and White respondents decreased by 0.042, 0.062, and 0.084, respectively. The fuzzy MEPI for male-headed households and the number of social grants increased, whereas the fuzzy MEPI significantly decreased ( p < 0.01) for the monthly salary and age of household heads. It was concluded that energy poverty in South Africa manifests through unclean energy utilization for space heating. The promotion of clean energy utilization should focus on deprived provinces, farms, and tribal areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Abayomi Samuel Oyekale & Thonaeng Charity Molelekoa, 2023. "Multidimensional Indicator of Energy Poverty in South Africa Using the Fuzzy Set Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-15, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:5:p:2089-:d:1075327
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/5/2089/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/5/2089/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Démurger, Sylvie & Fournier, Martin, 2011. "Poverty and firewood consumption: A case study of rural households in northern China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 512-523.
    2. Themoi Demsou, 2022. "Multi-Poverty and Deprivation in Chad: Multidimensional Approach Using the Fuzzy Set Theory," Growth, Asian Online Journal Publishing Group, vol. 9(1), pages 31-41.
    3. Omowunmi Mary Longe, 2021. "An Assessment of the Energy Poverty and Gender Nexus towards Clean Energy Adoption in Rural South Africa," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-21, June.
    4. Waheed Mobolaji Ashagidigbi & Bashirat Adenike Babatunde & Adebayo Isaiah Ogunniyi & Kehinde Oluseyi Olagunju & Abiodun Olusola Omotayo, 2020. "Estimation and Determinants of Multidimensional Energy Poverty among Households in Nigeria," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-13, September.
    5. Mendoza, Celedonio B. & Cayonte, Dwane Darcy D. & Leabres, Michael S. & Manaligod, Lana Rose A., 2019. "Understanding multidimensional energy poverty in the Philippines," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    6. Alkire, Sabina & Foster, James, 2011. "Counting and multidimensional poverty measurement," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(7), pages 476-487.
    7. Patrick Nussbaumer & Francesco Fuso Nerini & Ijeoma Onyeji & Mark Howells, 2013. "Global Insights Based on the Multidimensional Energy Poverty Index (MEPI)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(5), pages 1-17, May.
    8. Khomotso Semenya & Fannie Machete, 2019. "Factors that influence firewood use among electrified Bapedi households of Senwabarwana Villages, South Africa," African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(6), pages 719-729, September.
    9. Sabina Alkire, James E. Foster, Suman Seth, Maria Emma Santos, Jose M. Roche and Paola Ballon, 2015. "Multidimensional Poverty Measurement and Analysis: Chapter 9 - Distribution and Dynamics," OPHI Working Papers ophiwp090_ch9.pdf, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.
    10. Bensch, Gunther, 2013. "Inside the Metrics – An Empirical Comparison of Energy Poverty Indices for Sub-Saharan Countries," Ruhr Economic Papers 464, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    11. Sabina Alkire, James E. Foster, Suman Seth, Maria Emma Santos, José M. Roche and Paola Ballon, 2015. "Multidimensional Poverty Measurement and Analysis: Chapter 7 - Data and Analysis," OPHI Working Papers ophiwp088_ch7.pdf, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.
    12. Daniele Pacifico & Felix Poege, 2017. "Estimating measures of multidimensional poverty with Stata," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 17(3), pages 687-703, September.
    13. Sabina Alkire & James E. Foster & Suman Seth & Maria Emma Santos & Jose M. Roche & Paola Ballon, 2015. "Multidimensional Poverty Measurement and Analysis: Chapter 9 - Distribution and Dynamics," OPHI Working Papers 90, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.
    14. Sabina Alkire, James E. Foster, Suman Seth, Maria Emma Santos, José M. Roche and Paola Ballon, 2015. "Multidimensional Poverty Measurement and Analysis: Chapter 2 - The Framework," OPHI Working Papers ophiwp083_ch2.pdf, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.
    15. Sabina Alkire & James E. Foster & Suman Seth & Maria Emma Santos & Jose M. Roche & Paola Ballon, 2015. "Multidimensional Poverty Measurement and Analysis: Chapter 7 - Data and Analysis," OPHI Working Papers 88, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.
    16. Sabina Alkire & James E. Foster & Suman Seth & Maria Emma Santos & Jose M. Roche & Paola Ballon, 2015. "Multidimensional Poverty Measurement and Analysis: Chapter 2 - The Framework," OPHI Working Papers 83, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.
    17. Drescher, Katharina & Janzen, Benedikt, 2021. "Determinants, persistence, and dynamics of energy poverty: An empirical assessment using German household survey data," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    18. Primc, Kaja & Slabe-Erker, Renata & Majcen, Boris, 2019. "Constructing energy poverty profiles for an effective energy policy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 727-734.
    19. Boqiang Lin & Michael Adu Okyere, 2020. "Multidimensional Energy Poverty and Mental Health: Micro-Level Evidence from Ghana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-18, September.
    20. COSTA Michele, 2002. "A multidimensional approach to the measurement of poverty," IRISS Working Paper Series 2002-05, IRISS at CEPS/INSTEAD.
    21. Alkire, Sabina & Foster, James & Seth, Suman & Santos, Maria Emma & Roche, Jose Manuel & Ballon, Paola, 2015. "Multidimensional Poverty Measurement and Analysis," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199689491.
    22. Reddy, B. Sudhakara, 2015. "Access to modern energy services: An economic and policy framework," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 198-212.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zaman, Qamar uz & Zhao, Yuhuan & Zaman, Shah & Alenezi, Marim & Jehan, Noor, 2023. "Spatial evaluation of multidimensional energy poverty between farming and non-farming communities of agro-climatic zones of Pakistan," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    2. Abre-Rehmat Qurat-ul-Ann & Faisal Mehmood Mirza, 2021. "Multidimensional Energy Poverty in Pakistan: Empirical Evidence from Household Level Micro Data," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 155(1), pages 211-258, May.
    3. Burhan Can Karahasan & Fırat Bilgel, 2021. "The Topography and Sources of Multidimensional Poverty in Turkey," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 154(2), pages 413-445, April.
    4. Ren, Zhiyuan & Zhu, Yuhan & Jin, Canyang & Xu, Aiting, 2023. "Social capital and energy poverty: Empirical evidence from China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    5. Tavares, Fernando Flores & Betti, Gianni, 2021. "The pandemic of poverty, vulnerability, and COVID-19: Evidence from a fuzzy multidimensional analysis of deprivations in Brazil," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    6. Gaurav Datt, 2019. "Multidimensional poverty in the Philippines, 2004–2013: How much do choices for weighting, identification and aggregation matter?," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 57(4), pages 1103-1128, October.
    7. Dutta, Indranil & Nogales, Ricardo & Yalonetzky, Gaston, 2021. "Endogenous weights and multidimensional poverty: A cautionary tale," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    8. Andrea Brandolini & John Micklewright, 2020. "Tony Atkinson’s new book, Measuring Poverty Around the World. Some further reflections," Working Papers 518, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    9. Najam, Zaira, 2020. "The Sensitivity of Poverty Trends to Dimensionality and Distribution Sensitivity in Poverty Measures - District Level Analysis for Pakistan," MPRA Paper 102383, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Bénédicte Apouey & David Madden, 2023. "Health poverty," Chapters, in: Jacques Silber (ed.), Research Handbook on Measuring Poverty and Deprivation, chapter 19, pages 202-211, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    11. Shatakshee Dhongde & Robert Haveman, 2022. "Spatial and Temporal Trends in Multidimensional Poverty in the United States over the Last Decade," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 163(1), pages 447-472, August.
    12. Nick Bailey & Anne-Catherine Guio, 2022. "Adaptive Deprivation Scales in a Multi-National Context: The European Child Deprivation Indicators," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(6), pages 2335-2362, December.
    13. Isaac Koomson & Raymond Elikplim Kofinti & Esther Laryea, 2024. "Financial inclusion and multidimensional child poverty," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 237-260, March.
    14. Alkire, Sabina & Oldiges, Christian & Kanagaratnam, Usha, 2021. "Examining multidimensional poverty reduction in India 2005/6–2015/16: Insights and oversights of the headcount ratio," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    15. Khaufelo Raymond Lekobane, 2022. "Leaving No One Behind: An Individual-Level Approach to Measuring Multidimensional Poverty in Botswana," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 162(1), pages 179-208, July.
    16. Carlo Drago, 2021. "The Analysis and the Measurement of Poverty: An Interval-Based Composite Indicator Approach," Economies, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-17, October.
    17. Decerf,Benoit Marie A & Ferrando,Mery & Quinn,Natalie N., 2021. "Global Income Poverty Measurement with Preference Heterogeneity : Theory and Application," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9844, The World Bank.
    18. Eva-Maria Egger & Vincenzo Salvucci & Finn Tarp, 2023. "Evolution of Multidimensional Poverty in Crisis-Ridden Mozambique," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 166(3), pages 485-519, April.
    19. Dipesh Gangopadhyay & Robert B. Nielsen & Velma Zahirovic-Herbert, 2021. "Methodology and Axiomatic Characterization of a Multidimensional and Fuzzy Measure of Deprivation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 153(1), pages 1-37, January.
    20. Ali Akbar Barati & Milad Zhoolideh & Mostafa Moradi & Eydieh Sohrabi Mollayousef & Christine Fürst, 2022. "Multidimensional poverty and livelihood strategies in rural Iran," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(11), pages 12963-12993, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:5:p:2089-:d:1075327. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.