Has the Construction of Digital and Intelligent Government Improved Total-Factor Energy Efficiency? —— A Causal Forest Analysis Based on Provincial Panel Data

Abstract: Objective: This study aims to explore the impact of digital and intelligent government construction on total-factor energy efficiency and its regional heterogeneity, providing empirical evidence for energy policy formulation.Method: Based on panel data from 30 provincial-level administrative regions in China from 2011 to 2021, this study constructs an index system for digital and intelligent government construction and measures its level using the entropy method. The super-efficiency SBM (Slacks-Based Measure) model is employed to calculate total-factor energy efficiency. The causal forest model is used to empirically analyze the relationship between the two and its heterogeneity.Conclusion: Digital and intelligent government construction has a significant positive effect on total-factor energy efficiency, with an average treatment effect of 0.1841. There is a clear regional heterogeneity, with the strongest improvement effect in the eastern region and weaker effects in the central and western regions. The level of economic development, urbanization, investment in intelligent equipment, and the degree of technology application are key influencing factors.Recommendation: Policies should focus on regional characteristics, increase investment in digital and intelligent infrastructure in the central and western regions, promote the intelligent transformation of traditional industries, and comprehensively improve energy efficiency.