Spatial club convergence of regional energy efficiency in China

This paper adopts data envelopment analysis method to calculate the regional energy efficiency from the perspective of total-factor energy efficiency. The Markov chain and spatial Markov chain are the common methods to test the club convergence of regional energy efficiency in China. Results indicate that the regional energy efficiency in China has been globally characterized by “club convergence” since 1999, and the energy efficiency transitions in China are closely connected with regional characteristics. A high level of energy efficiency has a positive influence on a region, whereas a low level of energy efficiency has a negative influence. This empirical analysis provides a spatial explanation to the “convergence clubs” of regional energy efficiency in China.