Energy Paths in the European Union: A Model-Based Clustering Approach

36 Pages Posted: 20 Mar 2017

See all articles by Zsuzsanna Csereklyei

Zsuzsanna Csereklyei

Australian National University (ANU) - Crawford School of Public Policy

Paul W. Thurner

University of Mannheim - Mannheim Centre for European Social Research (MZES)

Johannes Langer

Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU)

Helmut Kuchenhoff

University of Munich

Date Written: January 24, 2017

Abstract

This paper examines typical “energy paths”, i.e. the intertemporal development of the energy mixes of the member states of the European Union over 1971-2010. We apply model based clustering to detect major energy profiles and their compositional dynamics. The seven identified clusters show typical combinations of energy carriers dominating the primary energy consumption of a country. We find that countries tend to take a path towards higher quality energy mixes over time, however path inertia and dependencies arise from both infrastructure and resource endowments. Higher energy quality profiles are usually associated with higher national income and energy use per capita, supporting some evidence on the existence of a national-level energy ladder. We also find convergence in energy intensity over time, and a relationship between own resources and import dependency.

Keywords: European Union, energy paths, path dependencies, model based clustering

JEL Classification: Q40, Q48, O33, C11, C38

Suggested Citation

Csereklyei, Zsuzsanna and Thurner, Paul W. and Langer, Johannes and Kuchenhoff, Helmut, Energy Paths in the European Union: A Model-Based Clustering Approach (January 24, 2017). CCEP Working Paper 1701, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2937405 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2937405

Zsuzsanna Csereklyei (Contact Author)

Australian National University (ANU) - Crawford School of Public Policy ( email )

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601
Australia

Paul W. Thurner

University of Mannheim - Mannheim Centre for European Social Research (MZES) ( email )

Zimmer 137
D-68131 Mannheim
Germany
06 21 181-2810, 2061 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.sowi.uni-mannheim.de/lehrstuehle/lspol1/thurner.htm

Johannes Langer

Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU)

Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1
Munich, DE Bavaria 80539
Germany

Helmut Kuchenhoff

University of Munich

Ludwigstr. 33
Munchen, D-80539
Germany

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