Regional determinants of energy intensity in Japan: the impact of population density
Regional determinants of energy intensity in Japan: the impact of population density
复制标题
DOI：
10.1007/s41685-017-0045-1
复制
发表时间：
2018-08
影响因子：
1.4
通讯作者：
Akihiro Otsuka;M. Goto
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Akihiro Otsuka;M. Goto
日本经济必须与环境限制作斗争；因此，通过提高能源强度来控制温室气体排放和促进国家和地区经济增长都是重要的政策目标。考虑到这些目标之间的潜在冲突，本研究调查了日本区域经济当前的能源消耗水平，以确定有助于改善能源强度的因素。我们使用计量经济学方法进行了实证分析，以检验被认为是生产率提高的驱动力的人口密度是否有助于改善能源强度。分析结果表明，人口密度影响能源强度的提高。然而，不同地区的影响有所不同。在大城市地区，人口集聚提高了能源强度，而在农村地区，人口分散加剧了能源强度。这项研究的政策含义是，应鼓励各地区的人口集聚，以提高能源强度，从而在未来经济增长的同时保护环境。
The Japanese economy must contend with environmental restrictions; hence, both controlling greenhouse gas emissions by improving energy intensity and boosting national and regional economic growth are important policy goals. Given the potential conflicts between these goals, this study investigates the current energy consumption levels in the Japanese regional economy to determine the factors contributing to improvements in energy intensity. We conduct an empirical analysis using econometric methods to examine whether population density, which is considered a driving force of productivity improvements, contributes to improved energy intensity. The analysis results reveal that population density influences energy intensity improvements. However, the impact differs across regions. In large metropolitan areas, population agglomeration has improved energy intensity, whereas in rural areas, population dispersion has worsened it. The policy implication from this study is that population agglomeration should be encouraged in each region to improve energy intensity, which could protect the environment along with future economic growth.