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2021, Volume 3, Issue 4: 508-526. doi: 10.3934/GF.2021024
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Research article

The Impact of Urbanization on Energy Intensity — An Empirical Study on OECD Countries

  • 1.
    School of Economics and Statistics, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
  • 2.
    Guangzhou Institute of International Finance, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
  • 3.
    Faculty of Business and Law, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
  • Received: 07 August 2021 Accepted: 26 November 2021 Published: 29 November 2021

  • JEL Codes: G15, F36, C40

  • With the significant increase in population and economic level, the link between urbanization and energy intensity in a nation has grown into a popular academic focus. In light of this, we explore the impact of urbanization on energy intensity by utilizing the differential GMM method. We take OECD countries as research samples and collect the panel data of 38 countries from 1990 to 2015. In addition, we discuss the moderating role played by innovation in the process of urbanization affecting energy intensity. The results are summarized as follows: first, in the current OECD countries, the effect of urbanization on energy intensity presents a significant inverted U shape, passing the robust test; second, heterogeneous impacts of urbanization on energy intensity are reflected by both the national developmental level and energy intensity; third, a higher innovation level causes a stronger inhibition effect of urbanization on energy intensity.

    Citation: Jinhui Zhu, Zhehao Huang, Zhenghui Li, Khaldoon Albitar. The Impact of Urbanization on Energy Intensity — An Empirical Study on OECD Countries[J]. Green Finance, 2021, 3(4): 508-526. doi: 10.3934/GF.2021024

    Related Papers:

  • With the significant increase in population and economic level, the link between urbanization and energy intensity in a nation has grown into a popular academic focus. In light of this, we explore the impact of urbanization on energy intensity by utilizing the differential GMM method. We take OECD countries as research samples and collect the panel data of 38 countries from 1990 to 2015. In addition, we discuss the moderating role played by innovation in the process of urbanization affecting energy intensity. The results are summarized as follows: first, in the current OECD countries, the effect of urbanization on energy intensity presents a significant inverted U shape, passing the robust test; second, heterogeneous impacts of urbanization on energy intensity are reflected by both the national developmental level and energy intensity; third, a higher innovation level causes a stronger inhibition effect of urbanization on energy intensity.


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