Energy Intensity Developments in 40 Major Economies: Structural Change or Technology Improvement?

26 Pages Posted: 15 May 2013

See all articles by Enrica De Cian

Enrica De Cian

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM); CMCC - Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici

Michael Schymura

ZEW – Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research

Elena Verdolini

University of Brescia - Department of Law; CMCC - Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici - European Institute onEconomy and the Environment (EIEE)

Sebastian Voigt

ZEW – Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: May 14, 2013

Abstract

This study analyzes energy intensity trends and drivers in 40 major economies using the WIOD database, a novel harmonized and consistent dataset of input-output table time series accompanied by environmental satellite data. We use logarithmic mean Divisia index decomposition to (1) study trends in global energy intensity between 1995 and 2007, (2) attribute efficiency changes to either changes in technology or changes in the structure of the economy, and (3) highlight sectoral and regional differences. We first show that heterogeneity within each sector across countries is high. These general trends within the sectors are dominated by large economies, first and foremost the United States. In most cases, heterogeneity is lower within each country across the different sectors. Regarding changes of energy intensity at the country level, improvements between 1995 and 2007 are largely attributable to technological change while structural change is less important in most countries. Notable exceptions are Japan, the United States, Australia, Taiwan, Mexico and Brazil where a change in the industry mix was the main driver behind the observed energy intensity reduction.

Keywords: Energy Intensity, Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index Decomposition, WIOD Database

JEL Classification: Q43, C43

Suggested Citation

De Cian, Enrica and Schymura, Michael and Verdolini, Elena and Voigt, Sebastian, Energy Intensity Developments in 40 Major Economies: Structural Change or Technology Improvement? (May 14, 2013). FEEM Working Paper No. 38.2013, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2264708 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2264708

Enrica De Cian

Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM) ( email )

Campo S. M. Formosa, Castello 5252
Venice, 30122
Italy

CMCC - Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici ( email )

via Augusto Imperatore, 16
Lecce, I-73100
Italy

Michael Schymura

ZEW – Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research ( email )

P.O. Box 10 34 43
L 7,1
D-68034 Mannheim, 68034
Germany

Elena Verdolini

University of Brescia - Department of Law ( email )

50 via Delle Battaglie
25122 Brescia BS
Italy

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.2d4d.eu/about-elena/

CMCC - Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici - European Institute onEconomy and the Environment (EIEE) ( email )

Via Bergognone 34
Milan
Italy

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.2d4d.eu/about-elena/

Sebastian Voigt (Contact Author)

ZEW – Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research ( email )

P.O. Box 10 34 43
L 7,1
D-68034 Mannheim, 68034
Germany

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