The main purpose of this paper is to examine the convergence of energy productivity for 35 Asian countries over the period 1993-2010. These 35 countries are divided into five different geographical regions, namely, South East Asia, South Asia, North East Asia, North Asia and West Asia. We first use the sigma-convergence approach to investigate the disparity of energy productivity over time and find weak evidence of sigma-convergence process in energy productivity for all sample countries and mixed evidence for sub-sample countries. We then estimate the beta-convergence model by using the spatial panel data approach and find an existence of beta-convergence process in energy productivity for the whole set of sample countries and North East Asia. Moreover, we find mixed evidence of beta-convergence process in energy productivity for South East Asia, North Asia and West Asia. In South Asia, we find strong evidence of divergence process in energy productivity over the study period.
This study examines the convergence of energy productivity at the sectoral level across 35 Asian countries from 1991 to 2011 by using the spatial panel data approach. The results reveal that mixed evidence of convergence process in the sectoral energy productivity for these 35 Asian countries. We found beta-convergence process exists in energy productivity in the construction, manufacturing, mining; manufacturing and utilities, transport; storage and communications, and wholesale; retail trade; restaurants and hotels sectors. While there is no evidence of energy productivity convergence in the agriculture; hunting; forestry and fishing sector over the study period. Moreover, the spatial spillover effect has a positive impact on the sectoral energy productivity growth in 35 Asian countries.
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