Energy prices and investment in energy efficiency: evidence from Chinese industry 1997-2004

The paper develops and implements a methodology for assessing the role of energy prices and new investment in reducing energy intensity in Chinese industry. Analysing a unique panel data set which reports firm-level energy consumption and price from 1997 to 2004, the paper finds: the energy prices, not only the current but also the past energy prices, are key factors that driving down firms' energy intensity for all three types of firms: state-owned enterprises (SOEs), domestic non-SOEs (NSOEs) and foreign-funded firms (FFEs); furthermore, SOEs exhibit a robust price-investment channel: responding to rising energy prices, SOEs tend to invest in new energy-efficient capital, through which SOEs reduce energy intensity; the same price-investment channels are less robust for non-SOEs or foreign-funded firms.