Energy poverty and socioeconomic profiles: A case study of NUTS 2 regions in Italy, Lithuania and Poland using cluster analysis and mapping

This article analyses energy poverty from a regional perspective, focusing on NUTS 2 regions of Italy, Lithuania and Poland. It proposes a joint taxonomy of territorial profiles that combines a direct indicator of energy deprivation with macro-level socio-economic variables capturing affordability, social vulnerability, human capital, labour-market conditions and the dynamics of the productive structure. Using hierarchical cluster analysis and cartographic representation, the study identifies four regional profiles of energy deprivation and socio-economic context and assesses whether they primarily reflect within-country territorial gradients or cross-border similarities. The resulting taxonomy is largely country-structured, with limited cross-border overlap. High deprivation emerges in two distinct configurations: one associated with broader income and labour-market fragilities and one persisting despite comparatively favourable socio-economic fundamentals, pointing to the potential relevance of needs and system factors. The proposed taxonomy provides a concise tool to jointly interpret energy deprivation and socio-economic conditions at the NUTS 2 level and to inform place-sensitive policy interventions.