Decomposing energy productivity change: A distance function approach

By using output distance functions, this paper decomposes energy productivity change into several components: effects of the changes in the ratios of non-energy inputs to energy, energy supply composition, and output composition; technical efficiency change; technological change. We apply this method to decompose energy productivity change in 23 OECD countries between 1980 and 1990. Results show that technological change is the most important source; increase in capital–energy ratio and the growing importance within total energy supply of electricity also contribute to it.