The Impact of Resource Endowment and Digital Transformation on the Efficiency of Energy Transition

ABSTRACT In contemporary society, improving energy transition efficiency (ETE) has become a necessary measure to ensure the normal and sustainable functioning of society. Aiming to inform region‐specific “dual‐carbon” governance, this study quantifies the drivers of energy‐transition efficiency across 30 Chinese provinces from 2013 to 2022. Applying Super‐SBM, GML decomposition and a spatial Durbin model, we test how resource endowment and digital transformation affect ETE and whether spatial spill‐overs call for differentiated policies. The results are: (1) National ETE exhibits an “east‐high, west‐low” pattern yet inter‐regional gaps narrowed significantly after 2019, with technological progress contributing most; (2) resource abundance raises local ETE and exerts an even stronger positive indirect effect on neighboring provinces, indicating an “endowment advantage” rather than a curse; (3) digitalization enhances local efficiency but generates negative spill‐overs, suggesting a competitive “digital siphoning”; (4) regional heterogeneity is pronounced: eastern digital benefits spill over weakly while resource effects are modest, central provinces gain most from resource‐driven diffusion, and western regions experience strong spill‐overs from both factors. These findings affirm that one‐size‐fits‐all energy policies are inadequate; instead, tailored strategies that leverage local resource strengths, coordinate digital investment, and manage cross‐regional externalities are essential for accelerating an equitable and efficient national energy transition.