Factor network association, energy poverty and energy performance: The mitigation effects of the “belt and road” initiative

Energy poverty is a major problem in most countries, which is already struggling to adjust to the effects of global warming. To alleviate energy poverty, speed up energy transformation, and achieve sustainable energy development in participating countries, it is crucial to find a solution to the pressing practical problem of how to maximize the flow and distribution of energy resources through the “Belt and Road” Initiative (BRI). This study utilizes panel data from 144 countries around the world between 2007 and 2022. In order to measure how the BRI has affected energy poverty in participating countries, this paper builds a multidimensional energy poverty index (MEPI) and uses the time-varying difference-in-differences method. The results demonstrate that the BRI significantly reduces energy poverty in participating countries. This finding has been confirmed by multiple robustness evaluations. Energy poverty in participating countries is largely targeted by the BRI, which aims to deepen energy trade network association, upgrade energy infrastructure, and reduce energy costs. According to heterogeneity analysis, regions with poor institutional environments, low levels of technological advancement, and weaker international competitiveness are more affected by energy poverty. Therefore, it is imperative that the BRI should understand how energy poverty alleviation is transmitted geographically, taking into account the responsibilities and effects of each country in the network of factor links; it must also enable the transfer of resources between regions and provide suggestions for policies aimed at transforming and developing the world's energy infrastructure and mitigating the consequences of global warming.