Institutional Quality: A hurdle or a catalyst to eliminating energy poverty in sub-Saharan Africa?

WiZelle Kritzinger (), Roula Inglesi-Lotz (), Jessika Bohlmann (), Victoria Graham (), Livingstone Senyonga () and Abel Ramoelo ()
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WiZelle Kritzinger: University of Pretoria
Roula Inglesi-Lotz: University of Pretoria
Jessika Bohlmann: University of Pretoria
Victoria Graham: University of Johannesburg
Livingstone Senyonga: Makerere University Business School
Abel Ramoelo: South African National Space Agency

No 163, ERSA Working Paper Series from Economic Research Southern Africa

Abstract: Energy poverty is considered a significant challenge in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), significantly impeding economic growth and social development. This study examines the role of institutional quality in addressing energy poverty across 45 SSA countries from 2002 to 2022, focusing on two critical indicators: access to clean cooking technologies and fuels and access to electricity. This study explores six institutional quality indicators—Control of Corruption, Regulatory Quality, Government Effectiveness, Rule of Law, Voice and Accountability, and Political Stability—and finds that corruption control is a key factor in reducing energy poverty across various income groups. Political stability is also linked to lower access to clean cooking, while the rule of law supports electricity access. Additionally, urbanisation is identified as a crucial factor for improving electricity access. This study underscores the central role of institutional quality in addressing energy poverty in SSA and calls for further research that includes infrastructure investment, affordability, and sustainability to better understand the complexities of energy access challenges in SSA.

Keywords: Energy poverty; Energy access; Institutional quality; Sub-Saharan Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H11 O13 O43 Q43 Q48 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-10
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Published in ERSA Working Paper Series, October 2025

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