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Environmental regulation, industrial structure and energy efficiency: Evidence from 30 provinces in China

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  • Haicheng Zhu
  • Penghui Cai
  • Hao Fang
  • Zhengyu Zhu
  • Yao Li
  • Ruoqing Zhu

Abstract

The government’s environmental protection policy can significantly contribute to alleviating resource shortages and curbing environmental pollution, but the impact of various policy instruments implemented by the government on energy efficiency is unclear. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2005 to 2021, this paper analyses the impact of environmental regulation and the industrial structure on energy efficiency from the perspective of resource taxes. The U-shaped relationship between environmental regulation and energy efficiency and between the optimization of industrial structure can significantly improve energy efficiency, and the optimization of industrial structure is conducive to weakening the initial inhibitory effect of environmental regulation. In addition, the analysis of regional heterogeneity showed that the impact of environmental regulation was stronger in the central and western regions, while the impact of industrial structure was stronger in the eastern and western regions. The conclusions of this study can help to expand the understanding of the relationship between environmental regulation and industrial structure on energy efficiency, provide policy enlightenment for the realization of green development and high-quality development, and provide Chinese examples and experiences for developing countries to improve energy efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Haicheng Zhu & Penghui Cai & Hao Fang & Zhengyu Zhu & Yao Li & Ruoqing Zhu, 2024. "Environmental regulation, industrial structure and energy efficiency: Evidence from 30 provinces in China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(5), pages 1-18, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0299731
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299731
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dale W. Jorgenson & Peter J. Wilcoxen, 1990. "Environmental Regulation and U.S. Economic Growth," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 21(2), pages 314-340, Summer.
    2. Lijuan Su & Yating Zheng & Fayyaz Ahmad & Ilhan Ozturk & Yatao Wang & Tian Tian & Abdul Rehman, 2023. "Environmental Regulations and Chinese Energy Sustainability: Mediating Role of Green Technology Innovations in Chinese Provinces," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-23, June.
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