How to enhance China's total-factor energy efficiency via digital-real economy integration: New evidence from dynamic QCA analysis

Kaijun Zhong, Yalin Lei, Jun Zhao and Yong Jiang

Energy Economics, 2025, vol. 148, issue C

Abstract: In response to global climate challenges and China's regional energy efficiency disparities, this study identifies how digital-real economy integration (DRI) enhances total-factor energy efficiency (TFEE) through a novel dynamic qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) of 30 Chinese provinces (2012−2022). The findings reveal three key conclusions. First, while no single condition is strictly necessary for achieving high TFEE, the importance of digital infrastructure and digital finance has increased significantly. Digital infrastructure enhances energy efficiency by optimizing resource allocation and promoting industrial synergy, whereas digital finance contributes through green credit and capital optimization. Second, three primary DRI pathways for improving TFEE are identified: the digital industry-driven pattern, for regions with strong digital foundations but insufficient industrial agglomeration; the industrial synergy optimization pattern, for developed eastern regions; and the technology–capital–space interaction pattern, for areas with advanced green finance and concentrated industries. Third, Kruskal–Wallis rank–sum tests reveal that regional structural differences strongly influence digitalization and TFEE. Eastern regions lead due to policy support, resource allocation, industrial modernization, and talent advantages, whereas central and western regions face challenges such as weaker infrastructure, limited policy support, and slower digital transformation, resulting in unbalanced regional development.

Keywords: Digital-real integration; Total-factor energy efficiency; Dynamic QCA; Kruskal–Wallis rank sum test; Regional differences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C67 O33 Q41 R11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014098832500516X
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:148:y:2025:i:c:s014098832500516x

DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2025.108689

Access Statistics for this article

Energy Economics is currently edited by R. S. J. Tol, Beng Ang, Lance Bachmeier, Perry Sadorsky, Ugur Soytas and J. P. Weyant

More articles in Energy Economics from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().