Of cooks, crooks and slum-dwellers: Exploring the lived experience of energy and mobility poverty in Mexico's informal settlements

• Published in: World development Vol. 161; p. 106093
• Main Authors: Furszyfer Del Rio, Dylan D., Sovacool, Benjamin K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2023
• Subjects: Energy poverty; Fuel poverty; Lived experience; Mobility poverty; Transport poverty; Lived experience; Mobility poverty; Fuel poverty; Energy poverty; Transport poverty
• ISSN: 0305-750X; 1873-5991
• DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2022.106093

•We explore MCMA's residents' housing and energy needs, transport and mobility patterns, and challenges to health.•MCMA residents often perceived troubling patterns of discrimination, racism, violence and social intolerance.•Most participants face an intensified risk of experience energy and transport poverty simultaneously.•We discuss approaches to improve the quality of life and energy and mobility outcomes of MCMA residents. So-called “slum-dwellers” living in informal settlements in Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) often confront poor health outcomes, face chronic accommodation insecurity and are frequent victims of social intolerance, discrimination and racism. In addition, they usually reside in living environments with precariously hazardous conditions that often lead to their well-being endangerment. Based on extensive original research with slum-dwellers from the MCMA including focus groups (N = 18 participants), household interviews (N = 51 participants), and site visits (N = 5), this study investigates their energy and housing needs, transport and mobility patterns and challenges to their overall quality of life and health. The MCMA is one of the largest metropolitan regions globally, and most of its inhabitants experience a “double energy vulnerability,” circumstances whereby people are at an intensified risk of energy and transport poverty simultaneously. Our investigation circles around three key themes. In exploring the subject of extreme poverty and vulnerability, we show not only the problems they confront but also illegal practices such as electricity thefts and coping strategies. In investigating the subject of perpetual peripheralization, we show troubling patterns of discrimination, racism and social intolerance. In exploring the subject of spatial justice, we suggest a set of policies that ought to help achieve it.