Unveiling the green transition and gender disparities in the energy industry: A value-based DEA cluster analysis approach
This study examines the association between the Green Transition and gender disparities in the European energy sector using Value-Based Data Envelopment Analysis (VBDEA) and cluster analysis. Using a static, cross-sectional dataset from 2019, countries were categorized by their Green Transition Inde...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Sustainable Futures |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666188825001169 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849694111931564032 |
|---|---|
| author | C.O. Henriques M.C. Gouveia C.P. Viseu S.R. Sousa V. Moutinho |
| author_facet | C.O. Henriques M.C. Gouveia C.P. Viseu S.R. Sousa V. Moutinho |
| author_sort | C.O. Henriques |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examines the association between the Green Transition and gender disparities in the European energy sector using Value-Based Data Envelopment Analysis (VBDEA) and cluster analysis. Using a static, cross-sectional dataset from 2019, countries were categorized by their Green Transition Index (GTI) and assessed across five gender gap dimensions: employment, working hours, wages, inventor positions, and senior management roles in the energy sector. These dimensions were transformed into value functions inspired by Kahneman and Tversky, emphasizing the heightened sensitivity to the negative effects of gender disparities compared to the benefits of gender parity. Cluster VBDEA analyzed how clustering affects efficiency scores, revealing that while greener countries generally rank higher on the GTI, this does not necessarily lead to improved gender equality. Findings show that Cluster 1 countries, with the highest average GTI (53.48), exhibit significant gender gaps in employment, working hours, and wages, despite better senior management representation. In contrast, Cluster 4 countries, with the lowest GTI (30.70), perform better in these areas but struggle with disparities in inventor positions and leadership roles. Efficiency scores indicate that countries with stronger gender balance, such as Belgium, and France—serve as benchmarks, whereas high-GTI countries like The Netherlands and Germany exhibit inefficiencies tied to wage gaps and the underrepresentation of women in senior roles. Therefore, a high GTI alone does not ensure gender equality, emphasizing the need for targeted policies to address structural imbalances and promote a more inclusive, sustainable energy sector. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-102f7de3da674e2fa6b8cb2b74d09b08 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2666-1888 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sustainable Futures |
| spelling | doaj-art-102f7de3da674e2fa6b8cb2b74d09b082025-08-20T03:20:11ZengElsevierSustainable Futures2666-18882025-06-01910054610.1016/j.sftr.2025.100546Unveiling the green transition and gender disparities in the energy industry: A value-based DEA cluster analysis approachC.O. Henriques0M.C. Gouveia1C.P. Viseu2S.R. Sousa3V. Moutinho4Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Rua da Misericórdia, Lagar dos Cortiços, S. Martinho do Bispo, 3045-093 Coimbra, Portugal; DEEC, INESC Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima, Polo II, Coimbra 3030-290, Portugal; CeBER, Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Corresponding author at: Coimbra Business School, ISCAC, Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Quinta Agrícola, Bencanta, 3045-601 Coimbra, Portugal.Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Rua da Misericórdia, Lagar dos Cortiços, S. Martinho do Bispo, 3045-093 Coimbra, Portugal; DEEC, INESC Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima, Polo II, Coimbra 3030-290, Portugal; CeBER, Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, PortugalPolytechnic University of Coimbra, Rua da Misericórdia, Lagar dos Cortiços, S. Martinho do Bispo, 3045-093 Coimbra, Portugal; CEOS.PP Coimbra, Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra, Bencanta, Coimbra 3045-601, PortugalPolytechnic University of Coimbra, Rua da Misericórdia, Lagar dos Cortiços, S. Martinho do Bispo, 3045-093 Coimbra, Portugal; Research Center for Natural Resources, Environment and Society (CERNAS), Polytechnic University of Coimbra, Bencanta, 3045-601 Coimbra, PortugalDepartment of Management and Economics, Research Centre in Business Sciences (NECE-UBI), University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal; Intrepid Lab, Lusófona University, Porto, PortugalThis study examines the association between the Green Transition and gender disparities in the European energy sector using Value-Based Data Envelopment Analysis (VBDEA) and cluster analysis. Using a static, cross-sectional dataset from 2019, countries were categorized by their Green Transition Index (GTI) and assessed across five gender gap dimensions: employment, working hours, wages, inventor positions, and senior management roles in the energy sector. These dimensions were transformed into value functions inspired by Kahneman and Tversky, emphasizing the heightened sensitivity to the negative effects of gender disparities compared to the benefits of gender parity. Cluster VBDEA analyzed how clustering affects efficiency scores, revealing that while greener countries generally rank higher on the GTI, this does not necessarily lead to improved gender equality. Findings show that Cluster 1 countries, with the highest average GTI (53.48), exhibit significant gender gaps in employment, working hours, and wages, despite better senior management representation. In contrast, Cluster 4 countries, with the lowest GTI (30.70), perform better in these areas but struggle with disparities in inventor positions and leadership roles. Efficiency scores indicate that countries with stronger gender balance, such as Belgium, and France—serve as benchmarks, whereas high-GTI countries like The Netherlands and Germany exhibit inefficiencies tied to wage gaps and the underrepresentation of women in senior roles. Therefore, a high GTI alone does not ensure gender equality, emphasizing the need for targeted policies to address structural imbalances and promote a more inclusive, sustainable energy sector.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666188825001169Gender gapsEnergyCluster analysis approachValue-Based Data Envelopment AnalysisEurope |
| spellingShingle | C.O. Henriques M.C. Gouveia C.P. Viseu S.R. Sousa V. Moutinho Unveiling the green transition and gender disparities in the energy industry: A value-based DEA cluster analysis approach Sustainable Futures Gender gaps Energy Cluster analysis approach Value-Based Data Envelopment Analysis Europe |
| title | Unveiling the green transition and gender disparities in the energy industry: A value-based DEA cluster analysis approach |
| title_full | Unveiling the green transition and gender disparities in the energy industry: A value-based DEA cluster analysis approach |
| title_fullStr | Unveiling the green transition and gender disparities in the energy industry: A value-based DEA cluster analysis approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unveiling the green transition and gender disparities in the energy industry: A value-based DEA cluster analysis approach |
| title_short | Unveiling the green transition and gender disparities in the energy industry: A value-based DEA cluster analysis approach |
| title_sort | unveiling the green transition and gender disparities in the energy industry a value based dea cluster analysis approach |
| topic | Gender gaps Energy Cluster analysis approach Value-Based Data Envelopment Analysis Europe |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666188825001169 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cohenriques unveilingthegreentransitionandgenderdisparitiesintheenergyindustryavaluebaseddeaclusteranalysisapproach AT mcgouveia unveilingthegreentransitionandgenderdisparitiesintheenergyindustryavaluebaseddeaclusteranalysisapproach AT cpviseu unveilingthegreentransitionandgenderdisparitiesintheenergyindustryavaluebaseddeaclusteranalysisapproach AT srsousa unveilingthegreentransitionandgenderdisparitiesintheenergyindustryavaluebaseddeaclusteranalysisapproach AT vmoutinho unveilingthegreentransitionandgenderdisparitiesintheenergyindustryavaluebaseddeaclusteranalysisapproach |