A Research On Disparities Of Energy Utilization And Regional Economic Growth

Since the reform and opening up policy was implemented, China’s rapid economicgrowth has been called the "miracle" in modern world history. However, behind itsrapid economic growth there might be some malaises on whether it could realize“comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable” development. Although regionaleconomic development level has greatly improved since the implementation of generalregional development strategies such as “the Grand Development Plan of WesternChina”,“Rise of the Central Region”, the unbalance between regional development andthe distinct gap between different regions have not been changed fundamentally.Therefore, to study the internal mechanism of regional economic growth is an inevitablerequirement to promote the coordinated development of regional economy. In the meantime, China’s rapid economic development is mainly based on high investment, highconsumption and heavy pollution which have brought great pressure to its nationalresources and environment. To alleviate the conflict between national energy resourcesand the development of society and economy, a change should be made from “extensivemethod of economic growth” to “intensive method of economic growth”, from relyingmainly on increasing capital and energy inputs to improving the input-output efficiencyof all kinds of elements.Based on the two points above, this paper attempts to study coordinated regionaleconomic development from a new perspective of energy constraints, to explain theinternal mechanism of regional economic growth by taking energy consumption intoeconomic growth theory frame. This article first analyzes energy consumption andregional economic growth differences, and then carries out empirical study of theinternal mechanism of regional economic growth from the perspectives of input-outputand technology efficiency. Finally, it provides corresponding suggestions based on theresearch conclusion.Experience observation and empirical analysis results suggest that:①1995-2009,the relative gap of regional development of China’s eastern, central and western regionshave been narrowed, this trend were much more obvious since2008with much fasterGDP growth of the Mid-west regions compared with eastern region. Regionaldifferences is worth considering, the relative difference between provinces of westernregion is growing since2001;②1996-2009, material capital among all input elements contributed the highest to China’s economic growth, during the two financial crisis it ismore important. The contribution of human capital and total factor productivity toeconomic growth of eastern region is the highest among three regions, and energyconsumption in the Mid-west contributes relatively more to economic growth;③Thetechnology efficiency level of the three regions is fit with their economic developmentlevel, but from the view of its alteration, the growth rate of the Midwest region washigher than that of the eastern region, there is a significant convergence trend intechnology efficiency of every region;④From the perspective of influencing factors,the optimization of industrial and property structures, the enhancement of human capitaland opening-up levels all contribute to the enhancement of technology efficiency. Therelatively high proportion of coal consumption and energy intensity, in the opposite,tend to block the enhancement of technology efficiency. Based on the above researchconclusions, this paper provides corresponding suggestions from following aspects: topromote the transformation of economic growth source, to promote the equalization ofregional education, to improve energy efficiency and to control total energyconsumption.