In Hungary, the cost of energy has been a highly politicized topic for decades. In political discourse, the focus has been on the general affordabil- ity of energy for Hungarian households, without much consideration of more detailed social issues. For decades energy prices have been state regu- lated and generally framed as an instrument to “protect” households from being exposed to utility providers. The strong focus of political discourse on energy affordability perhaps distinguishes Hungary from other countries in the region. At the same time there is a high level of energy poverty in the country resulting from interplay among social, economic, and political factors, and this energy poverty is imperfectly addressed. In this chapter we (1) provide an overview of existing information on the prevalence and characteristics of energy poverty in Hungary; (2) offer an understanding of the larger structural and contextual causes shaping energy poverty with due regard to the specific post-socialist and post-transition traits; as well as (3) analyze public policies, showing how welfare and energy policies have not only failed to effectively address energy poverty so far but have also generated harmful outcomes.
Trapped in politics: energy poverty in Hungary
Bajomi Anna Zsófia;
2020-01-01
Abstract
In Hungary, the cost of energy has been a highly politicized topic for decades. In political discourse, the focus has been on the general affordabil- ity of energy for Hungarian households, without much consideration of more detailed social issues. For decades energy prices have been state regu- lated and generally framed as an instrument to “protect” households from being exposed to utility providers. The strong focus of political discourse on energy affordability perhaps distinguishes Hungary from other countries in the region. At the same time there is a high level of energy poverty in the country resulting from interplay among social, economic, and political factors, and this energy poverty is imperfectly addressed. In this chapter we (1) provide an overview of existing information on the prevalence and characteristics of energy poverty in Hungary; (2) offer an understanding of the larger structural and contextual causes shaping energy poverty with due regard to the specific post-socialist and post-transition traits; as well as (3) analyze public policies, showing how welfare and energy policies have not only failed to effectively address energy poverty so far but have also generated harmful outcomes.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
