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Beyond Income and Inequality: The Role of Socio-political Factors for Alleviating Energy Poverty in Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Chiara Certomà

    (University of Turin)

  • Filippo Corsini

    (Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies)

  • Marina Di Giacomo

    (University of Turin)

  • Marco Guerrazzi

    (University of Genoa)

Abstract

In each country, the occurrence of energy poverty among resident households is usually related to low income and its unequal distribution. Like other manifestations of material deprivation, however, such a phenomenon is likely to be also correlated with some internal socio-political factors that allow its persistence by preventing effective solutions. In this paper, we build and analyse a dataset for European countries by assessing the role of the perceived quality of internal public governance on different measures of energy deprivation. Specifically, we rely on the Worldwide Governance Indicators provided by the World Bank and estimate an array of panel models. After controlling for income, income inequality, energy prices, and weather conditions, we find that high government effectiveness, good regulatory quality, widespread property rights, contract enforcement, and corruption control are significantly associated with lower energy poverty. In addition, we consider the policy implications of this broader perspective on energy deprivation.

Suggested Citation

  • Chiara Certomà & Filippo Corsini & Marina Di Giacomo & Marco Guerrazzi, 2023. "Beyond Income and Inequality: The Role of Socio-political Factors for Alleviating Energy Poverty in Europe," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 169(1), pages 167-208, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:169:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s11205-023-03148-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-023-03148-z
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Energy poverty; Worldwide governance indicators; Energy transition;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • K32 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Energy, Environmental, Health, and Safety Law
    • P36 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions - - - Consumer Economics; Health; Education and Training; Welfare, Income, Wealth, and Poverty
    • P46 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Consumer Economics; Health; Education and Training; Welfare, Income, Wealth, and Poverty

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