To reduce energy consumption and to maintain rapid economic growth: Analysis of the condition in China based on expended IPAT model

As one of the important driving forces of world economic development, Chinaʹs rapid economic growth has not only supplied the world with a large number of manufactured goods, but also caused Chinaʹs sustained and rapid increase in energy consumption because of the characteristics of Chinaʹs economic development and overall low productivity derive from them in many years. According to the IPAT model and its expansion, this article figures out Chinaʹs indicators of economic growth and changes in energy consumption brought by technological progress since 1986. Empirical results show that, despite many years’ efforts, Chinaʹs high-speed economic growth is still largely dependent on massive energy consumption. How to maintain rapid economic growth while reducing energy consumption? China has faced the very problem it needs to address.