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Energy poverty: A macrolevel perspective

Author

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  • Kaja Primc
  • Renata Slabe‐Erker
  • Boris Majcen

Abstract

The growing unpredictability of energy poverty requires a different policy approach. Yet studies focus on the microlevel drivers, leaving the roles of macroeconomic perspective and climate understudied. Studying the latter is important though, because well‐planned policies can fail if the causes of energy poverty and their interrelations remain unclear. This research submits data collected from 28 EU member states to fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis and offers new evidence concerning the relationship between energy poverty and macrolevel drivers. Our results suggest that states with a mild climate, low or average GDP, and high energy prices have high levels of energy poverty. Likewise, states located in colder climates with low or average GDP, the energy‐policy focus, and nonhigh energy prices tend to be energy poor. Moreover, the results show that two configurations lead to absence of energy poverty. To develop and implement effective policies, it is vital to understand these configurations.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaja Primc & Renata Slabe‐Erker & Boris Majcen, 2019. "Energy poverty: A macrolevel perspective," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(5), pages 982-989, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:27:y:2019:i:5:p:982-989
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.1999
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Touray, Alfusainey & Hao, Yu, 2025. "Bridging the energy gap: Macro-drivers of access-based energy poverty in West Africa," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    4. Sangeetha Chandrashekeran & Viktoria Noka & Stefan Bouzarovski, 2022. "Energy Poverty: Measurement and Governance in Europe and Lessons for Australia," Australian Economic Review, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, vol. 55(4), pages 491-502, December.
    5. Pingkuo Liu & Ruiqi Zhao & Xue Han, 2023. "Assessing the efficiency and the justice of energy transformation for the United States of America, China, and the European Union," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(5), pages 3387-3407, October.
    6. Anasuya Haldar & Narayan Sethi & Pabitra Kumar Jena & Purna Chandra Padhan, 2023. "Towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 in sub‐Saharan Africa: Role of governance and renewable energy," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(4), pages 2446-2463, August.
    7. Xinjie Shi & Pei Zeng & Liu Cui & Xuwen Gao & Tongwei Qiu & Qiang Jiang & Linlin Fu, 2025. "Assessing the impact of marketization on energy poverty," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(4), pages 9257-9286, April.
    8. Igawa, Moegi & Managi, Shunsuke, 2022. "Energy poverty and income inequality: An economic analysis of 37 countries," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 306(PB).
    9. Ye Fan & Tim Döring & Shouhao Li & Xin Zhang & Ming Fang & Yongda Yu, 2024. "Energy poverty and public health vulnerability: A multi‐country analysis," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(5), pages 5161-5180, October.

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