An examination of the total factor energy efficiency for Chinese provinces (1999–2010)

Our paper examines the energy efficiencies of 28 provinces in China for the period 1999-2010 by the data envelopment analysis (DEA) method. Tobit model is used to test the determinants of total factor energy efficiency in China dividing the outputs into the desirable output and undesirable output. Our empirical results show that in the period of 1999-2003, the provincial total factor energy efficiency shows to be U-shape, but in the period of 2004-2010, they are mildly increasing. These results indicate that the total factor energy efficiency can reflect the real economic development after considering the pollution emissions.