OECD Energy Intensity: Measures, Trends, and Convergence

Liddle, Brantley (2012): OECD Energy Intensity: Measures, Trends, and Convergence. Published in: Energy Efficiency , Vol. 5, No. 4 (2012): pp. 583-597.

Abstract

This paper focuses on several different measures of OECD countries’ energy intensity levels, plots their trends, applies a number of techniques to determine whether those intensities are converging, explores the importance of that convergence, and estimates the future steady-state or long-run distribution of energy intensity for the OECD. The paper finds that OECD energy intensity typically is declining, and a number of parametric and nonparametric methods indicate a strong degree of convergence. However, convergence is conditioned on country specific factors since differences in individual energy-GDP ratios persist. These findings suggest limits to the general decline in developed country energy intensity.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: energy intensity; convergence; intra-distribution dynamics; energy quality index; OECD countries
• Subjects: Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q4 - Energy > Q43 - Energy and the Macroeconomy

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