Explaining Cross-National Variation in Energy Consumption : The Effects of Development, Ecology, Politics, Technology, and Region

Energy consumption is typically explained by economic development. This study examines the effects of ecological factors, such as climate, geographic dispersion, and population density, along with political, technological, and regional variables. Multiple regression shows that, net of economic development, there are significant differences in per capita energy consumption across nations. Appliance ownership, climate, surface area, and geographical size of countries have significant but inconsistent associations with energy consumption. Debt service, work sector dispersion, and government type have negligible effects. There are also significant regional differences in energy consumption, which may be due to unmeasured effects of culture and energy policy. Studies of energy consumption and efficiency need to take into account a broader range of factors, including ecology, cultural practices, and energy policy.