Abstract Concerning the problem that what impact trade openness has on energy consumption, this paper adds human capital into the analysis perspective and studies trade openness and human capital’s direct effect and interactive effect on energy consumption in China. By applying 30 provincial statistic data from 2001 to 2012, this paper uses fixed effects regression model and panel threshold regression model do an empirical study. The results show that the direct effect of trade openness on energy consumption demonstrates an inverted “U” type curve. When the trade openness is in the low-level, raising the level of trade openness will increase energy consumption and energy intensity. When the trade openness is in the high-level, raising the level of trade openness will decrease energy consumption and energy intensity. Human capital’s direct effect on energy consumption is significant negative. Improving human capital accumulation will promote regional economic growth form transfer from physical capital driven to human capital driven. When human capital is in the high threshold range, trade openness and human capital’s interactive effect on energy consumption is significant negative. In provinces where human capital is relatively high, trade openness will enhance human capital intensive an industry grow, thus decreases energy consumption and improves energy efficiency.
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