Energy Productivity Convergence in Eastern European Countries: A Panel Data Approach

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper empirically investigates energy productivity convergence across Eastern European Countries. The analysis is performed by using two different models of β-convergence and panel data methods. Analysis reveals that a 1% decrease in energy productivity of the initial year and the previous year associates with a 1.4059% increase in the average annual growth rate of energy productivity calculated relative to the initial year and a 1.4830% increase in the growth rate of energy productivity calculated relative to the previous year. These findings support energy productivity convergence among sample countries; however, β-coefficients indicate to the weakness of this convergence.