Why China’s Heating Industry High-input but Low-return?

Abstract

ABSTRACTChina is vigorously promoting energy conservation and emission reduction, however, its heating industry is still characterized by high input, high energy consumption, high pollution, but low output. Addressing this issue is of great significance for green economy. This paper tries to figure out the reasons behind this phenomenon by estimating the optimal resource allocation in the industry. The results reveal that labor input plays the most important role, while capital input plays the least. Blind expansion and blind investment exist in the industry. Technological progress’s impact on the heating output growth is limited. The contribution rate of scientific and technological progress is negative except 1985–1991 and 1994 indicating that the contribution rate of scientific and technological progress can become negative, and the negative effect grows with the increase in financial burden. This paper provides reference for the heating reform in China.