OUTPUT AND EMPLOYMENT EFFECTS OF THE SPREAD OF CLEAN COAL TECHNOLOGY IN CHINA

This study investigates how clean coal technology affects output and employment based on panel models for the 31 regions in China, the largest coal producer and consumer in the world, during 2000-2012. The results show that the coal consumption structure has positive effects on output and insignificant negative effects on employment, while carbon emission intensity has strong negative effects on both. These results provide evidence that the spread of clean coal technology, which can reduce carbon emissions without diminishing coal consumption, is an effective way in which to stimulate output and employment. Further, both productivity improvement and the upgrading of the industrial structure have strong positive effects on output and employment. Therefore, China should provide preferential policies and encourage the entry of private capital to stimulate enterprise development, further accelerating the spread of clean coal.