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Fuel poverty and the energy benefits system: The Italian case

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  • Raffaele Miniaci
  • Carlo Scarpa
  • Paola Valbonesi

Abstract

In this paper we discuss a number of ways to define and measure the affordability of energy consumption, and we examine the emergence of fuel poverty in Italy in the period from 1998 to 2011. The paper examines the eligibility criteria for claiming the benefits available to support energy consumption for vulnerable families and it identifies the potential beneficiaries. The study assesses the appropriateness of the eligibility criteria by comparing the population targeted by the policy with the population actually living in fuel poverty. A simulation exercise, using the hypothetical scenario most likely to result in energy benefits being made available, shows that, regardless of the affordability index adopted, the provision of state energy benefits has little impact on fuel poverty.

Suggested Citation

  • Raffaele Miniaci & Carlo Scarpa & Paola Valbonesi, 2014. "Fuel poverty and the energy benefits system: The Italian case," IEFE Working Papers 66, IEFE, Center for Research on Energy and Environmental Economics and Policy, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy.
    • Handle: RePEc:bcu:iefewp:iefewp66
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Villalobos, Carlos & Chávez, Carlos & Uribe, Adolfo, 2021. "Energy poverty measures and the identification of the energy poor: A comparison between the utilitarian and capability-based approaches in Chile," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    2. Llorca, Manuel & Rodriguez-Alvarez, Ana & Jamasb, Tooraj, 2020. "Objective vs. subjective fuel poverty and self-assessed health," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    3. Martins, Rita & Quintal, Carlota & Antunes, Micaela, 2019. "Making ends meet: Actual versus potential joint affordability of utility services," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 120-126.
    4. Ivan Faiella & Luciano Lavecchia, 2015. "Energy Poverty in Italy," Politica economica, Società editrice il Mulino, issue 1, pages 27-76.
    5. Rodríguez-Álvarez, A. & Orea, L. & Jamasb, T., 2016. "Fuel poverty and well-being: a consmer theory and stochastic fronteir approach," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 1668, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    6. Rodriguez-Alvarez, Ana & Orea, Luis & Jamasb, Tooraj, 2019. "Fuel poverty and Well-Being:A consumer theory and stochastic frontier approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 22-32.
    7. Romero, José Carlos & Linares, Pedro & López, Xiral, 2018. "The policy implications of energy poverty indicators," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 98-108.
    8. Lefkothea Papada & Anastasios Balaskas & Nikolas Katsoulakos & Dimitris Kaliampakos & Dimitris Damigos, 2021. "Fighting Energy Poverty Using User-Driven Approaches in Mountainous Greece: Lessons Learnt from a Living Lab," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-17, March.
    9. Kearns, Ade & Whitley, Elise & Curl, Angela, 2019. "Occupant behaviour as a fourth driver of fuel poverty (aka warmth & energy deprivation)," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 1143-1155.
    10. Stefan Bouzarovski & Saska Petrova & Sergio Tirado-Herrero, 2014. "From Fuel Poverty to Energy Vulnerability: The Importance of Services, Needs and Practices," SPRU Working Paper Series 2014-25, SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex Business School.
    11. David Bienvenido-Huertas & Jesús A. Pulido-Arcas & Carlos Rubio-Bellido & Alexis Pérez-Fargallo, 2021. "Prediction of Fuel Poverty Potential Risk Index Using Six Regression Algorithms: A Case-Study of Chilean Social Dwellings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-30, February.
    12. Carlos Villalobos Barría & Carlos Chávez & Adolfo Uribe, 2019. "Energy poverty measures and the identification of the energy poor: A comparison between the utilitarian and multidimensional approaches in Chile," Ibero America Institute for Econ. Research (IAI) Discussion Papers 243, Ibero-America Institute for Economic Research.
    13. Mª Desirée Alba-Rodríguez & Carlos Rubio-Bellido & Mónica Tristancho-Carvajal & Raúl Castaño-Rosa & Madelyn Marrero, 2021. "Present and Future Energy Poverty, a Holistic Approach: A Case Study in Seville, Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-15, July.
    14. Awan, Ashar & Bilgili, Faik & Rahut, Dil Bahadur, 2022. "Energy poverty trends and determinants in Pakistan: Empirical evidence from eight waves of HIES 1998–2019," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    fuel poverty; affordability; energy benefits; vulnerable consumers;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • Q4 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy

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