How the digital economy drives energy efficiency in China: a re-examination based on the Environmental Kuznets Curve

Qiang Ma, Qiu Li and Chang Ma

Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, 2023, vol. 36, issue 2, 2170903

Abstract: The digital economy has become important in the world’s major economies. Improving energy efficiency is the key to achieving stable and sustainable economic growth and carbon emissions reduction. However, the impact of the digital economy on energy efficiency remains unclear. Accordingly, this study examines the relationship between the digital economy and energy efficiency from the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) perspective. In doing so, this study confirms that the digital economy follows the EKC in energy utilization efficiency, and there is a U-shaped relationship between the digital economy and energy efficiency, although this relationship differs from one region to another. This study also discusses the moderating effects of environmental regulation and innovation capability in this U-shaped relationship, confirming that they have a moderating effect on this relationship, reducing the inflection point of the U-shaped relationship, and reducing the negative influence of the digital economy on the energy efficiency and enhancing the positive impact. This study can serve as a reference for policymakers and professionals in emerging economies, helping them achieve a win-win situation for economic development and reducing carbon emissions.

Date: 2023
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/1331677X.2023.2170903 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

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:taf:reroxx:v:36:y:2023:i:2:p:2170903

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.tandfonline.com/pricing/journal/rero20

DOI: 10.1080/1331677X.2023.2170903

Access Statistics for this article

Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja is currently edited by Marinko Skare

More articles in Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja from Taylor & Francis Journals
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Longhurst ().