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China's energy saving potential from the perspective of energy efficiency advantages of foreign-invested enterprises

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  • Jiang, Xuemei
  • Zhu, Kunfu
  • Green, Christopher

Abstract

The paper investigates the energy saving potential associated with firm ownership-related differences in energy efficiency such as those between domestically and foreign-owned firms. Because of a gap in official statistics this topic has barely been touched upon in the scholarly literature. This paper employs a new energy input–output table that distinguishes firm ownership (Chinese owned enterprises, COEs; and foreign-invested enterprises, FIEs) and trade mode (export processing and normal goods production) to analyze the energy efficiency advantage of FIEs in China in 2007. The results show that the total energy intensities of COEs in the industrial sector are generally 5%–35% higher than that of FIEs across industry groups. At an aggregate level, China could save up to 20.3% of its energy use, if industrial COEs could duplicate the energy use efficiency and production technology of FIEs. This gain would require major technology upgrades among COEs.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiang, Xuemei & Zhu, Kunfu & Green, Christopher, 2015. "China's energy saving potential from the perspective of energy efficiency advantages of foreign-invested enterprises," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 104-112.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:49:y:2015:i:c:p:104-112
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2015.01.023
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    9. Mateo Ortiz & María‐Ángeles Cadarso & Luis‐Antonio López, 2020. "The carbon footprint of foreign multinationals within the European Union," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 24(6), pages 1287-1299, December.
    10. Zhen, Wei & Qin, Quande & Zhong, Zhangqi & Li, Li & Wei, Yi-Ming, 2018. "Uncovering household indirect energy-saving responsibility from a sectoral perspective: An empirical analysis of Guangdong, China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 451-461.
    11. Khalili-Damghani, Kaveh & Tavana, Madjid & Santos-Arteaga, Francisco J. & Mohtasham, Sima, 2015. "A dynamic multi-stage data envelopment analysis model with application to energy consumption in the cotton industry," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 320-328.
    12. Mair, Simon & Druckman, Angela & Jackson, Tim, 2019. "Higher Wages for Sustainable Development? Employment and Carbon Effects of Paying a Living Wage in Global Apparel Supply Chains," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 11-23.
    13. Wu, Wanlu & Cheng, Yuanyuan & Lin, Xiqiao & Yao, Xin, 2019. "How does the implementation of the Policy of Electricity Substitution influence green economic growth in China?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 251-261.
    14. Liu, Fengqin & Sim, Jae-yeon & Sun, Huaping & Edziah, Bless Kofi & Adom, Philip Kofi & Song, Shunfeng, 2023. "Assessing the role of economic globalization on energy efficiency: Evidence from a global perspective," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    15. Sun, Huaping & Edziah, Bless Kofi & Kporsu, Anthony Kwaku & Sarkodie, Samuel Asumadu & Taghizadeh-Hesary, Farhad, 2021. "Energy efficiency: The role of technological innovation and knowledge spillover," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    16. Jiang, Xuemei & Guan, Dabo & Zhang, Jin & Zhu, Kunfu & Green, Christopher, 2015. "Firm ownership, China's export related emissions, and the responsibility issue," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 466-474.
    17. Wang, Dingqing & Liao, Hongwei & Liu, Aiguo & Li, Dongdong, 2023. "Natural resource saving effects of data factor marketization: Implications for green recovery," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).
    18. Hao Xiao & Shuquan Li & Julien Chevallier & Bangzhu Zhu, 2017. "Electricity-Savings Pressure and Electricity-Savings Potential among China?s Inter-Provincial Manufacturing Sectors," Working Papers 2017-006, Department of Research, Ipag Business School.
    19. Lubing Xie & Xiaoming Rui & Shuai Li & Xiaozhao Fan & Ruijing Shi & Guohua Li, 2018. "A Critical Analysis on Influential Factors on Power Energy Resources in China," Modern Applied Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 12(2), pages 1-1, February.
    20. Bu, Maoliang & Li, Shuang & Jiang, Lei, 2019. "Foreign direct investment and energy intensity in China: Firm-level evidence," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 366-376.
    21. Jiang, Xuemei & Duan, Yuwan & Green, Christopher, 2017. "Regional disparity in energy intensity of China and the role of industrial and export structure," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 209-218.
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    23. Chen, Quanrun & Löschel, Andreas & Pei, Jiansuo & Peters, Glen P. & Xue, Jinjun & Zhao, Zhongxiu, 2019. "Processing trade, foreign outsourcing and carbon emissions in China," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 1-12.
    24. Huang, Geng & He, Ling-Yun & Lin, Xi, 2022. "Robot adoption and energy performance: Evidence from Chinese industrial firms," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Energy intensity; Energy saving potential; Foreign-invested enterprises; Chinese owned enterprises; Input–output table;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q43 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Energy and the Macroeconomy
    • R15 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Econometric and Input-Output Models; Other Methods

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