Deprived of energy, deprived of their future? The effect of energy poverty on children’s schooling in Ethiopia

This study investigates the impact of energy poverty on children’s schooling. It uses data from the recent waves of the Ethiopia Socioeconomic Panel Survey and a multidimensional approach to measure energy poverty. Five child schooling variables, capturing attendance and years of schooling, are examined. The potential endogeneity of multidimensional energy poverty is treated by applying two-stage instrumental variable estimation techniques. The study ultimately identifies local average treatment effects, with the first stage determining the potential correlates of energy poverty. Results show that multidimensional energy poverty is lower for households in urban areas, with higher household expenditure, and where the household head has a permanent work contract.

Available at: https://doi.org/10.55158/DEEPCFWP12