The Multidimensionality of Energy Poverty in Brazil: An Analysis Historical

49 Pages Posted: 2 Mar 2022

See all articles by Paula Bezerra

Paula Bezerra

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)

Talita Cruz

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)

Antonella Mazzone

affiliation not provided to SSRN

André F. P. Lucena

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)

Enrica De Cian

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM); CMCC - Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici

Roberto Schaeffer

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) - Centre for Energy and Environmental Economics (Cenergia)

Abstract

The different dimensions that characterize energy poverty can be assessed by a Multidimensional Energy Poverty Index (MEPI). This study adapts and calculates MEPI for Brazil, contributing to understanding the evolution of incidence and intensity of energy poverty in the country. Using three different energy dimensions – physical access, appliances ownership, and affordability – we calculate MEPI for the 2002-2018 period. Results show that, despite a significant improvement in access to modern energy fuels and in the ownership of some primary appliances, Brazil still shows a significant prevalence of energy poverty. Problems related to affordability have not been widely solved, and nowadays this remains the main issue. There are still 11% of households living in energy poverty conditions and, in rural areas, this number reaches 16%. Considering the social and geographic heterogeneity of Brazil, we characterize energy poverty across different regions and socioeconomic groups. Results show that the isolated areas in the northern regions are the most deprived of energy services. We finally underscore the income inequality that is somehow related to situations of energy poverty. Non-energy poor households tend to have an income at least twice as high as that those households considered energy poor.

Keywords: Energy Poverty, energy services, multidimensional energy poverty index, brazil

Suggested Citation

Bezerra, Paula and Cruz, Talita and Mazzone, Antonella and Lucena, André F. P. and De Cian, Enrica and Schaeffer, Roberto, The Multidimensionality of Energy Poverty in Brazil: An Analysis Historical. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4048223 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4048223

Paula Bezerra (Contact Author)

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) ( email )

Largo de São Francisco
1, Centro
Rio de Janeiro, 22270000
Brazil

Talita Cruz

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) ( email )

Largo de São Francisco
1, Centro
Rio de Janeiro, 22270000
Brazil

Antonella Mazzone

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

André F. P. Lucena

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) ( email )

Largo de São Francisco
1, Centro
Rio de Janeiro, 22270000
Brazil

Enrica De Cian

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM) ( email )

Campo S. M. Formosa, Castello 5252
Venice, 30122
Italy

CMCC - Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici ( email )

via Augusto Imperatore, 16
Lecce, I-73100
Italy

Roberto Schaeffer

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) - Centre for Energy and Environmental Economics (Cenergia) ( email )

Brazil

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