Abstract
Improvement of ecological total-factor energy efficiency (ETFEE) is crucial for transformation of China’s economic growth pattern, energy conservation and emissions abatement. Here we combined the epsilon-based measure (EBM) and the Global Malmquist-Luenberger (GML) productivity index to evaluate ETFEE and ecological total-factor energy productivity (ETFEP) and its decompositions for 283 prefecture-level cities in China between 2003 and 2013. A spatial econometric model is used to investigate factors influencing ETFEE and ETFEP. Results indicated that ETFEE, ETFEP and corresponding trends differ significantly depending on whether environmental constraints are considered. No convergence trend was found in ETFEE between prefecture-level cities. Technical progress plays the largest role in increasing ETFEP growth. Pure efficiency change and scale efficiency change, however, are the main hindering factors. Boosting cumulative technological progress, cumulative scale efficiency growth rate and cumulative pure efficiency growth rate are important means of increasing ETFEP. I also found that areas with high levels of economic development do not completely overlap with areas of high ETFEE. Surprisingly, the fiscal expenditure on scientific undertakings and technological spillover effects from foreign direct investment (FDI) have not substantially increased ETFEE. Whereas increased industrialization hinders the improvement of ETFEE. Furthermore, reducing per capita energy consumption help boost ETFEE. In addition, endowment advantages of factors of production have a positive overall effect on improving ETFEE. Lastly, important policy implications are inferred.
Highlights
China already consumes the most energy and emits the most carbon of any country in the world [1,2]
As such, striving to improve energy efficiency and energy total-factor productivity as well as transforming the economic growth pattern in pursuit of sustainable development is key to ensuring that China achieves its target for Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) and high-quality economic development, but is a topic of global concern
It is assumed that decision-making unit (DMU) j uses input elements x = (x1j, x2j, . . . , xLj ), producing the desirable outputs y = (y1j, y2j, ..., yMj ) and undesirable outputs b = (b1j, b2j, . . . , bIj )
Summary
China already consumes the most energy and emits the most carbon of any country in the world [1,2]. Improving energy efficiency will be key to meeting China’s energy conservation and emissions abatement targets as well as controlling its atmospheric pollution [3]. Economists widely agree that if economic growth is primarily driven by inputs of factors of production, it is extensive and unsustainable. On the other hand, total-factor productivity generates major contributions to economic growth, economic growth will be intensive and sustainable [4]. As such, striving to improve energy efficiency and energy total-factor productivity as well as transforming the economic growth pattern in pursuit of sustainable development is key to ensuring that China achieves its target for Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) and high-quality economic development, but is a topic of global concern. Public Health 2019, 16, 3480; doi:10.3390/ijerph16183480 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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