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Extreme energy poverty: The aftermath of Lebanon’s economic collapse

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  • Dagher, Leila
  • Jamali, Ibrahim
  • Abi Younes, Oussama

Abstract

We collect primary data by conducting a survey on 931 Lebanese households who work in seven pre-specified sectors across all Lebanese governorates. The survey was supplemented by five groups of Key Informant Interviews that helped in formulating the survey questionnaire and in validating and interpreting the data from the survey. This paper aims to provide an assessment of the extent of energy poverty in Lebanon against comparators. Energy poverty is gauged using three indicators: (i) percentage of households able to keep their household warm, (ii) percentage of income spent on energy and, (iii) the low-income high-cost approach. Our findings uncover that Lebanese households suffer from the highest prevalence of energy poverty amongst comparators and, in absolute (rather than comparative) terms, a very high incidence of energy poverty. The findings underscore the dire need for measures that aim to mitigate the energy poverty of Lebanese households. We prescribe and discuss policy actions to alleviate the drastic situation which is further exacerbated by the ongoing crises. Our actionable policy recommendations are tailored to Lebanon’s specificities and cover the different relevant energy sectors; electricity, transportation, cooking, and heating.

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  • Dagher, Leila & Jamali, Ibrahim & Abi Younes, Oussama, 2023. "Extreme energy poverty: The aftermath of Lebanon’s economic collapse," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:183:y:2023:i:c:s0301421523003683
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2023.113783
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    Cited by:

    1. Oussama Abi Younes & Leila Dagher & Ibrahim Jamali & Paul Makdissi, 2023. "Quantifying turbulence: Introducing a multi-crises impact index for Lebanon," Working Papers 2305E, University of Ottawa, Department of Economics.
    2. dagher, leila & altug, sumru, 2023. "The end game to Lebanon’s woes: IMF reform and political willingness," MPRA Paper 119192, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Lebanon; Energy poverty; Household survey; Electricity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • 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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