Summary: | As a result of strong economic growth and an expanding population over the course of the last two decades, China has become one of the world's leading economies and the world's largest energy consumer. Given the importance of China to the world economy, and the essential role that energy plays, it is crucial to understand the energy-related economic challenges faced by China. This thesis investigates four related topics on the economics of energy in China. Topics include (1) the relationship between urbanization and energy efficiency, (2) the cost effect of energy on industrial structure, (3) gasoline price patterns, and (4) the impact of energy abundance on industrial production and trade distribution. The results emphasize the importance of urbanization and open-market policies in determining the energy usage in China, and suggest that energy prices and energy-related regulations are efficient instruments to promote resources reallocation across industries and resources relocation across regions.
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