Sustainable Energy in Post-Communist East- Central Europe - A Comprehensive Study

Abstract

Energy is managed in a complex way by the theories of sustainability. All three pillars of sustainability (society, environment, and economy) are inseparable from the energy sector, because energy consumption causes so many externalities that threaten welfare in the long run. Most environmental problems are in close connection with energy use and production, such as nuclear waste management, oil spills, emission, etc. Furthermore, energy is an integral part of the economic and social development, and sustainable energy is a core issue. In this review a previously developed but recently improved methodology is presented which is suitable for the measurement of sustainable energy. Using panel data and estimating a Fixed Effects Model, we examine whether economic development contributes to the effectiveness of policy implementation for sustainable energy development in East-Central Europe.