Analysis of Energy Poverty in 7 Latin American Countries Using Multidimensional Energy Poverty Index

Oscar S. Santillán, Karla G. Cedano and Manuel Martínez
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Oscar S. Santillán: Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, A.P. 34, Temixco 62580, Mor. México, Mexico
Karla G. Cedano: Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, A.P. 34, Temixco 62580, Mor. México, Mexico
Manuel Martínez: Instituto de Energías Renovables, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, A.P. 34, Temixco 62580, Mor. México, Mexico

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-19

Abstract: Energy poverty is a serious problem affecting many people in the world. To address it and alleviate it, the first action is to identify and measure the intensity of the population living in this condition. This paper seeks to generate information regarding the actual state of energy poverty by answering the research question: is it possible to measure the intensity of energy poverty between different Latin American countries with sufficient and equivalent data? To achieve this, the Multidimensional Energy Poverty Index ( MEPI ), proposed by Nussbaumer et al., was used. The results present two levels of lack of access to energy services: Energy Poverty (EP) and Extreme Energy Poverty (EEP). The last one, is a concept introduced by the authors to evaluate energy poverty using MEPI . Results of people living on EP (EEP within parentheses) are as follow: Colombia 29% (18%), Dominican Republic 32% (14%), Guatemala 76% (61%), Haiti 98% (91%), Honduras 72% (59%), Mexico 30% (17%) and Peru 65% (42%). A clear correlation between the Human Development Index (HDI) and MEPI is displayed, however some countries have relatively high values for the HDI, but do not perform so well in the MEPI and vice versa. Further investigation is needed.

Keywords: energy access; energy poverty measurement; energy indicators; energy index; multidimensional energy poverty index; Latin America (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (23)

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