Does human capital matter for energy consumption in China?

Abstract

© 2017 Elsevier B.V. the dynamic relationship between human capital and energy consumption using Chinese provincial data over the period 1990–2010. Considering for cross-sectional dependence and parameter heterogeneity across space and over time, we identify a significant and negative human capital–energy consumption relationship in China. Specifically, we find that a 1% increase in human capital reduces energy consumption by a range between 0.18% and 0.45%. Furthermore, this negative relationship can be attributed to stronger accumulation of post-school human capital in eastern China. This finding suggests that energy conservation in China could be achieved by improving post-school human-capital components such as on-the-job training, experience and learning-by-doing.