Does the disparity between rural and urban incomes affect rural energy poverty?

The persistent disparity between urban and rural incomes in China poses a critical challenge to alleviating energy poverty in rural areas. This study investigates how the income gap between urban and rural regions exacerbates rural energy poverty, focusing on the period from 2005 to 2023, utilizing data from 30 provinces. By employing a two-way fixed-effects model and asymmetry analysis, the research reveals that an increase in the urban-rural income disparity significantly intensifies rural energy poverty. Notably, at higher income quantiles, the gap's effect on energy poverty is more pronounced, while at lower quantiles, its impact is less severe. Financial development, rather than alleviating the situation,…