Political and economic influences on the Energy Trilemma in Latin America and the Caribbean
利用高维变量选择和固定效应面板估计，识别出与拉丁美洲和加勒比地区能源三难困境最相关的可持续发展目标指标，发现人力资本、社会包容和基础设施投资支撑能源系统，而短期经济繁荣和政治激励则带来结构性脆弱性。
Despite increasing interest in the Energy Trilemma, the political and economic forces shaping energy security, energy equity, and environmental sustainability remain underexplored, especially in developing regions. This study addresses this gap using a two-stage empirical strategy that combines high-dimensional variable selection with fixed-effects panel estimation to identify the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) indicators most strongly associated with the three dimensions of the Energy Trilemma in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The analysis reveals two central patterns. First, foundational investments in human capital, social inclusion, and infrastructure consistently support more robust energy systems. Second, structural vulnerabilities arise from short-lived, narrow-based economic booms and from political incentives that prioritize short-term subsidized affordability over long-term energy security and environmental sustainability. Overall, the findings demonstrate how broader development trajectories shape energy outcomes and offer policy-relevant insights for strengthening energy transitions in developing regions.