Impact of the Urban-Rural Income Disparity on Carbon Emission Efficiency Based on a Dual Perspective of Consumption Level and Structure

Xiuqing Zou, Tianyue Ge () and Sheng Xing
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Xiuqing Zou: School of Economics and Management, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai 201306, China
Tianyue Ge: School of Economics and Management, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai 201306, China
Sheng Xing: School of Economics and Management, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai 201306, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 14, 1-19

Abstract: Utilizing Chinese provincial panel data from 2006–2019, this paper applies the super-efficient epsilon-based measure (EBM) model including non-desired output to measure carbon emission efficiency (CE) and analyze spatio-temporal characteristics of CE, in which social fixed asset investment, energy consumption and urban employment per unit are used as input indicators and regional GDP and CO2 emissions are used as output indicators. Additionally, we use the spatial Durbin model to explore the impact of urban-rural income disparity (URID) on carbon emission efficiency and its spatial spillover effect and explore indirect mechanisms of consumption level and consumption structure on CE using mediating effect test. The results showed that: (1) The national CE level generally declined between 2006–2012 and fluctuated upward from 2013–2019. The trend of regional CE showed “high in the east and low in the west”. (2) The “inverted U” model accurately reflects the relationship between national CE and URID, with a “U” shaped association in the central, western, and northeastern regions, and a positive correlation with consumption level and consumption structure. (3) There is a significant mediating effect of consumption level and structure in the mechanism of URID in regulating CE. Local governments should adopt local policies, take measures to narrow URID and CLD, advocate low-carbon and environmentally friendly living for residents, and promote the upgrading of consumption structure to boost carbon emission efficiency.

Keywords: urban-rural income gap; carbon emission efficiency; resident consumption; the super-efficient (EBM) model; spatial spillover effect (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:14:p:11475-:d:1201556

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