Abstract
Energy poverty is simultaneously multidimensional and dynamic, and its eradication is consistent with the requirements of sustainable development. The methodology integrates the “double-cut-off” approach and the “duration analysis” approach to develop the chronic multidimensional energy poverty index (CMEPI) and instrumental variables (IV) method is utilized to check the role of the digital economy in poverty alleviation. Results are based on data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) from 2011 to 2018. The major findings show that 64.243% of households suffer from chronic multidimensional energy poverty (CMEP) deprivation, with the affordability indicator contributing the most, followed by using traditional energy for cooking. Secondly, CMEP exhibits evident characteristics of household, individual, and regional heterogeneity, which occurs mostly in households with members who have low education, work in agriculture, have more children, and live in rural areas. Finally, the development of the digital economy has a significant positive effect on lifting households out of CMEP, especially for households that have been in poverty for a longer period of time. Moreover, this positive poverty reduction effect is mainly achieved through the promotion of green technology innovation, the enhancement of environmental awareness, and the development of urbanization. These outcomes will assist the policymakers who aim to eradicate energy poverty.
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The raw data CHARLS is publicly available. The data in the tables and pictures in this paper are calculated by authors’ code. Authors can provide code if required. All data processing processes are real and credible.
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The authors declare that during the preparation of this manuscript, we are supported by “the Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities”, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law.
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Sun, L., Cui, W., Li, Y. et al. Understanding the energy poverty in China: chronic measurement and the effect of the digital economy. Environ Dev Sustain (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-024-04878-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-024-04878-x