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High-Speed Rail and Energy Productivity: Evidence from China

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  • Yantuan Yu
  • Shuai Shao

Abstract

Using the difference-in-differences method combined with the propensity score matching, this study identifies the causal relationship between high-speed rail (HSR) and energy productivity in China. Furthermore, we investigate the mechanism through which HSR affects energy productivity, as well as the heterogeneity of the impact across quantiles and distances. The results show that HSR connection contributes to the improvement of energy productivity. This finding is consolidated after a potential endogeneity problem is addressed using the instrumental variable method and a variety of potential confounders are controlled through a series of robustness checks. On average, the marginal impact of HSR on energy productivity is approximately 9%. Moreover, HSR connection cannot be completely substituted by traditional railway and aviation in improving energy productivity. The heterogeneity analysis suggests that the positive energy productivity effect of HSR gradually decreases with an increasing distance to the nearest HSR station. In addition, HSR network accessibility has a significant positive effect on energy productivity, while technological innovation mediates the relationship between HSR development and energy productivity. We propose that to achieve the long-term improvement of energy productivity, policymakers should comprehensively consider both transit-oriented development and ecology-oriented development modes.

Suggested Citation

  • Yantuan Yu & Shuai Shao, 2024. "High-Speed Rail and Energy Productivity: Evidence from China," The Energy Journal, , vol. 45(1), pages 51-79, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:enejou:v:45:y:2024:i:1:p:51-79
    DOI: 10.5547/01956574.45.1.yayu
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Gao, Jinfeng & Li, Jianglong, 2025. "High-speed railway, industrial firm sorting, and electricity demand redistribution," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
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    3. Yantuan Yu & Ning Zhang, 2025. "Revealing the Power of Market-Based Energy Policy: Evidence from China’s Energy Quota Trading System Using Machine Learning," Working papers 2025rwp-258, Yonsei University, Yonsei Economics Research Institute.
    4. Yantuan Yu & Ling Liu & Yayun Ren, 2025. "Effect of climate change adaptation on energy productivity: evidence from China," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 58(4), pages 1-22, August.

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