Determinants of the Energy Poverty of Polish Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Łukasz Mamica, Jakub Głowacki and Kamil Makieła
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Łukasz Mamica: Department of Public Economics, Cracow University of Economics, Rakowicka 27, 31-510 Kraków, Poland
Jakub Głowacki: Department of Public Economics, Cracow University of Economics, Rakowicka 27, 31-510 Kraków, Poland

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to define the factors influencing the level of energy poverty among students. The analysis of these factors is based on the results of a survey conducted among a group of 937 students at the Cracow University of Economics. The study takes into consideration the changes in the attitudes and behavior of students resulting from the introduction of distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The switch to distance learning resulted in a significant increase in the number of responses related to feeling ill or sick due to inadequate temperature (from 24% before a lockdown to 32% after the introduction of a lockdown). Students experienced temporary surges in their overall living costs due to the pandemic, especially during the first wave. The respondents who experienced inappropriate temperatures (inadequate heating) due to excessive costs felt ill or became sick more often than others. The study demonstrated that those who pay more for energy (defined as a surplus payment in excess of 10%) tended to be, on average, less energy-aware than others. The following indicators of energy poverty among the students were distinguished: high living costs, small degree of influence over the choice of living quarters, as well as concerns over energy efficiency and environment. The conclusions drawn from the conducted studies may be utilized to design public policies aimed at curtailing the phenomenon of energy poverty among students. This issue is particularly prominent in large urban agglomerations where the costs of living are high and result in the feeling of pressure regarding the need to save money on thermal energy consumption.

Keywords: energy poverty; COVID-19; student; energy consumption (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: 2021
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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