Abstract
This paper explores the popular idea of a ‘heat or eat’ dilemma existing for some households. The mixed-methods research finds that there is a relationship between not being able to heat the home and not being able to eat well. However, it appears that households struggle to do either, and there is considerable nuance in household decisions around energy use. Qualitative data analysis indicates the importance of energy billing periods, household composition and social and familial networks in terms of shaping household experiences and responses. The findings challenge the established idea that food and fuel are elastic household expenditures.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 225-243 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Journal | Journal of Poverty and Social Justice |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 10 Apr 2018 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jun 2018 |
Keywords
- Destitution
- Food poverty
- Fuel poverty
- Heat or eat
Access to Document
- Snell_Is_There_Evidence_Journal_of_Poverty_and_Social_Justice
This is a post-peer-review, pre-copy edited version of an article published in Journal of Poverty and Social Justice. The definitive publisher-authenticated version Snell, Carolyn; Lambie-Mumford, Hannah; Thomson, Harriet, Is there evidence of households making a heat or eat trade off in the UK?, Journal of Poverty and Social Justice, 26, 2, pp. 225-243 is available online at: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/tpp/jpsj/2018/00000026/00000002/art00006;jsessionid=26n3kaviajxxo.x-ic-live-02#. © Policy Press 2018. Checked 23/7/18.