School of Economics and Business Administration, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, Austrialia.
PLoS One. 2020 May 21;15(5):e0233061. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233061. eCollection 2020.
Prior research tends to propose and examine the negative relationship between market segmentation and energy efficiency. Does market segmentation necessarily impair energy efficiency? Considering the critical role that Chinaese government play in managing erergy efficiency, we propose a non-linear relationship between market segmentation and energy efficiency. Using data of 30 provinces in Mainland China during 2000 to 2017, we find an inverse U-shaped relationship between market segmentation and energy efficiency. Our findings remain robust after controlling endogeneity issues. Therefore, a moderate level of market segmentation is acceptable and beneficial for long-term improvement of energy efficiency in emerging economies.
先前的研究倾向于提出并检验市场分割与能源效率之间的负向关系。市场分割一定会降低能源效率吗？考虑到中国政府在管理能源效率方面发挥的关键作用，我们提出市场分割与能源效率之间存在非线性关系。利用中国内地 30 个省份 2000 年至 2017 年的数据，我们发现市场分割与能源效率之间呈倒 U 型关系。在控制了内生性问题后，我们的研究结果仍然具有稳健性。因此，适度的市场分割是可以接受的，并且有利于新兴经济体长期提高能源效率。
