Research On China's Provincial Total-factor Energy Efficiency And Impacts On It

Energy is the material base of human activities, and impacts economy and society. Energy efficiency was known as"the fifth energy". Enhancing energy efficiency, saving energy and emission reduction of pollution are important ways for constructing two-oriented society, which also means a lot to sustainable development. There were some errors in existing studies about China's energy efficiency, but we all could not deny inarguable truth China's energy efficiency is low as a whole. The thesis oriented by enhancing energy efficiency answered these questions as follows: What is the connotation of energy efficiency? How to calculate energy efficiency? What are the differences and trends of energy efficiency among 29 administrative regions in China? Which factors impact China's energy efficiency and how to improve it?To solve those problems, the thesis compares some different ways of computing energy efficiency at first. We find out total-factor energy efficiency (TFEE) by using non-parametric Data Envelopment Analysis is a better way than single-factor energy efficiency. And then, based on the framework of Hu and Wang's Total-factor energy efficiency, we use the software DEAP 2.1 to estimate TFEE of 29 administrative regions in China for period 1989-2008, including the models which involve undesirable outputs dealt by INP or MLT method respectively. We discover that the China's energy efficiency is low in the mass, but there is a weak decline around 2000. The gap among eastern China, middle China and the western still exists and is yawning, and eastern China is of highest energy efficiency region. Finally, the thesis chooses panel data including 29 provinces of China for period 1995-2008 to explain the fluctuation and differences of energy efficiency. We find out opening to the outside world, government power and level of education have positive effect on energy efficiency. However, industrial structure and energy consumption structure have negative influence on energy efficiency. The variables technical progress and the proportion of hi-tech industry have no remarkable effect on energy efficiency, because they are not significant statistically. According to the results, the thesis puts forward some advices to improve energy efficiency. First of all, we should upgrade and optimize the industrial structure, and encourage technology innovation to improve energy efficiency. Secondly, we should recognize the difference between high and low energy efficiency areas, which means they are different when they are bided by the plan of energy saving and emission reduction. Thirdly, we should strengthen government's macroscopic readjustment and control. Finally, we should hold on opening policy and raise the awareness of protecting the environment.