Energy Poverty across the European Union: An fsQCA Analysis of Causal Pathways

The issue of energy poverty has gained increasing attention at the EU level, being referenced in various energy-related legislation and initiatives. Two prominent examples are the Clean Energy for All Europeans Package (Directive (EU) 2018/2002) and the proposed European Green Deal. In the academic literature, energy/fuel poverty has a longer history. Much of this research focuses on theorizing the phenomenon, its conceptualization and operationalization, and individual or small-N comparative case studies. While it is broadly accepted that energy poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon with various causes, with a few exceptions larger-scale comparative studies analyzing the diversity of drivers across the EU appear to be lacking. Given the issue’s increasing relevance for EU energy policy, such a study would seem to be of critical importance. Applying fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis, this thesis attempts to fill this gap by identifying the various combinations of conditions driving the phenomenon (and its absence) across the EU. The results suggest a strong role for social policy in terms of protection benefits and housing in driving the outcome as well as its absence. Such findings have important implications for both EU and national-level policy aimed at addressing the issue as well as for broader energy-related initiatives and concerns, particularly energy transition and energy justice.