Digital infrastructure construction and household energy efficiency: Based on a quasi-natural experiment in China

Abstract

With respect to total emissions, the proportion of household carbon emissions exhibits an upward trend; therefore, to reduce carbon emissions and enhance energy efficiency, researchers should understand the reasons for the increase in household carbon emissions. This study, which is based on the construction of the “Broadband China” demonstration cities and the 2010–2018 China Family Panel Studies, applies a difference-in-differences method. It identifies the impact of digital infrastructure construction on indirect household energy consumption, carbon emissions, and energy efficiency. The estimation results indicate that digital infrastructure construction significantly enhances household energy consumption and carbon emissions, and that it enhances the household energy efficiency pertaining to household carbon emissions and usage. Furthermore, the results indicate that households mainly enhance energy usage and efficiency by increasing developmental consumption. Additionally, this study noted that digital infrastructure construction affects household energy consumption and efficiency through the development of the consumer Internet and industrial Internet, which reshapes household consumption behavior and promotes the producers' technological progress.