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A deep-narrative analysis of energy cultures in slum rehabilitation housing of Abuja, Mumbai and Rio de Janeiro for just policy design

Author

Listed:
  • Ramit Debnath

    (EPRG, CJBS, University of Cambridge)

  • Ronita Bardhan

    (Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge)

  • Sarah Darby

    (University of Oxford)

  • Kamiar Mohaddes

    (EPRG, CJBS, University of Cambridge)

  • Minna Sunikka-Blank

    (Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge)

Abstract

Slum rehabilitation housing (SRH) are critical transitional spaces in urban informality that has deep-rooted implications on poverty alleviation efforts. However, current literature reports systemic injustices in SRH on access to essential services, including energy injustices. This study investigated distributive injustices in the SRH across three cities, Abuja, Mumbai and Rio de Janeiro, developing ‘energy cultures’ narratives. It employed a computational social science methodology that used textual analysis, followed by a constructivist grounded theoretic approach to inform just policy design. The analysis was performed at two scales to identify and contrast injustices in the study areas. The result at an aggregated scale showed commonalities were around the poor design of the built environment, administrative lags of the utilities and high electricity bills. Case study-specific results showed that poverty penalties were linked with the energy cultures of each SRHs. In the Mumbai case, poverty penalties were associated with the aspirational purchase of household appliances due to move from slums to SRH. The Abuja case showed low power quality and load shedding frequently damaged appliances that increase the maintenance costs for the occupants. The Rio de Janeiro SRH case had injustices embedded through the adoption of inefficient appliances received as charity from higher-income households. Fuel stacking was also observed in the SRH that illustrated cultural identities associated with cooking energy. The conclusion was drawn to support just policy design by considering the socio-cultural context of the built environment, improving utility governance and promoting cleaner fuel mix at the household level.
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)

Suggested Citation

  • Ramit Debnath & Ronita Bardhan & Sarah Darby & Kamiar Mohaddes & Minna Sunikka-Blank, 2020. "A deep-narrative analysis of energy cultures in slum rehabilitation housing of Abuja, Mumbai and Rio de Janeiro for just policy design," Working Papers EPRG2030, Energy Policy Research Group, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.
    • Handle: RePEc:enp:wpaper:eprg2030
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Debnath, Ramit & Bardhan, Ronita & Sunikka-Blank, Minna, 2019. "How does slum rehabilitation influence appliance ownership? A structural model of non-income drivers," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 418-428.
    2. Ramit Debnath & Sarah Darby & Ronita Bardhan & Kamiar Mohaddes & Minna Sunikka-Blank, 2020. "Grounded reality meets machine learning: A deep-narrative analysis framework for energy policy research," Working Papers EPRG2019, Energy Policy Research Group, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    energy justce; poverty; computational social science; policy design; machine learning; textual analysis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy
    • R20 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - General

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