The relationship between energy intensity and economic growth: New evidence from a multi-country multi-sectorial dataset

•We analyze the relationship between energy intensity and economic growth using a flexible piecewise linear regression.•We find that energy intensity declines as income rises but the slope significantly flattens out at a GDP pc level of $5000.•Structural change is an important contributor to energy intensity changes at all income levels.•Efficiency changes are more important for energy intensity changes when income exceeds GDP pc levels of $5000.