Spatial difference analysis of residential energy consumption, income and carbon emissions in China

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the internal relationships and tendency of residential energy consumption, income and carbon emissions.

Design/methodology/approach

Taking 30 provinces of China as the analysis unit and dividing them into two types of urban and rural consumer groups, the panel data model was built. In addition, panel unit root test, panel cointegration test and panel Granger causality test were also used.

Findings

The results showed that there are long-run equilibrium relationships between the three variables, which show the regular tendency in the spatial process. The elasticity coefficients of residential energy consumption and CO₂ emissions vary across the three regions and decline continuously from the western to central and eastern regions. In addition, geographic location is also an important factor on the energy consumption and CO₂ emissions in residential sector.

Originality/value

This paper provides some points for policies on cutting energy use and pollution in residential sector.

Citation

Ding, Y. and Niu, S. (2017), "Spatial difference analysis of residential energy consumption, income and carbon emissions in China", International Journal of Energy Sector Management, Vol. 11 No. 4, pp. 541-556. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJESM-01-2016-0004