Regional differences and pattern classifications in the efficiency of coal consumption in China

This research, which was based on the data envelopment analysis (DEA) model and the Malmquist index, studies the difference for the period 2000-2012 in the efficiency of coal consumption and pattern classification in China's 30 provinces as well as the major eastern, central, western, and northeastern areas. Firstly, the static analysis results showed that the technical efficiency (TE) of China's coal consumption was 0.710, the pure technical efficiency (PTE) was 0.803, and the scale efficiency (SE) was 0.889. The PTE, which needs to be further improved, was the main factor affecting the TE. The ranking for the TE of the four regions was the eastern region, northeast region, central region, and in last place the western region. The dynamic analysis results showed that the change index of China's total-factor of coal consumption efficiency was 0.899 and the average annual growth rate was −10.1%. Efficiency change (EC) and technical change (TC) of the average annual growth rate were −4.7% and −5.7%, respectively. The interaction of EC and TC resulted in a negative growth of the total-factor of coal consumption efficiency. The difference in the total-factor of the coal consumption efficiency among the four regions expanded each year. Secondly, by measuring the TE of China's coal consumption excluding environmental factors and then including environmental factors we were able to classify the coal consumption efficiency model of 30 provinces in China. Finally, we provided some policy suggestions aimed at improving the efficiency of China's coal consumption.