Measuring energy poverty in Argentina: The relevance of regional disparities and policies

Abstract

This paper provides new evidence on Energy Poverty (EP) in Argentina, a middle-income country with regional disparities and a complex history of energy subsidies. Using microdata from the three most recent waves of the National Household Expenditure Survey, EP is measured through the Ten Percent Rule Index (TPRI) and the Multidimensional Energy Poverty Index (MEPI). Results show a U-shaped trend in EP linked to shifts in energy subsidies, and highlight relevant regional heterogeneity driven by income, energy use, and price regulation. The study also examines links with monetary poverty, offering insights for equitable energy policy design.