Aiming to provide insights for nations improving their natural resources management and facilitate smooth energy transition, this study investigates green productivity across 38 OECD countries by employing by-production technology, directional distance functions, data envelopment analysis, and the Luenberger-Hicks-Moorsteen (LHM) productivity indicator. The analysis includes a comparative examination of the LHM productivity indicator and its components, along with an exploration of the relationship between LHM indicator and the structure of renewable energy consumption. The main discoveries can be succinctly summarized as follows: Firstly, the LHM productivity indicator highlights growth driven primarily by technical progress (TP), despite impediments posed by changes in technical efficiency change (TEC) and scale efficiency change (SEC). Secondly, many countries have demonstrated successful attainment of positive green growth, with outstanding performances observed in Ireland and Latvia. Conversely, Turkey, Costa Rica, and Iceland exhibit relative shortcomings in terms of sustainability. Over time, there is a discernible widening gap in green productivity among countries, with improvements in TP being a major contributing factor to the growth of the LHM indicator in most nations. Thirdly, the study reveals that the consumption structure of renewable energy has a positive impact on the LHM indicator. Lastly, the transition towards sustainable energy yields a significant positive effect on smaller nations and those with lower per capita carbon dioxide emissions. This nuanced comprehension of the link between green productivity and the structures of renewable energy consumption provides valuable insights to the discourse on sustainable development and resource reallocation.
This paper examines the impact of the coal sector on the economy from the perspective of industry shocks. Existing research primarily focuses on the relationship between coal consumption and the economy. An 8-sector dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model is constructed, based on China's input-output tables from 2005 to 2020, to depict the economic effects of coal sector shocks. The research findings are: (1) The DSGE model reveals a close connection between the coal industry and the macroeconomy. (2) The coal sector shocks have the largest impact on the electricity sector. (3) Coal sector shocks primarily affect the macroeconomy through non-energy manufacturing sectors. (4) As the economic development level increases, the influence of coal sector shocks on the macroeconomy gradually diminishes. The econometric analysis indicates that the role of coal is no longer significant in the high stage of economic development. The results of the panel quantile regression model also show the same result. Based on these conclusions, this paper suggests that as China gradually enters a new stage of development, it can gradually reduce coal consumption.
This study investigates the effects of eco-friendly finance and fossil fuel efficiency on sustainability in 15 OECD countries from 2005 to 2021. A 1% increase in the Fossil Fuels Efficiency Index improves sustainability by 0.32% in the short term and 0.45% in the long term. Similarly, a 1% rise in green finance enhances sustainability by 0.16% short-term and 0.40% long-term. Negative impacts on sustainability were found from the Energy Security Risk Index, Carbon Footprint, and Economic Growth, while higher Income Levels boost sustainability. Fossil fuel efficiency has a greater effect on sustainability than green finance, highlighting the need to prioritize fossil fuel efficiency. Recommendations include promoting renewable energy, digitizing green finance, customizing marketing strategies, importing energy efficiency technologies, and implementing efficient green tax rates.
Financial technology is now playing a significant part in supporting the advancement of the economy. Moreover, there exists an escalating awareness concerning the safeguarding of resources. The ongoing research illuminates the reliability of the resource curse assumption concerning selected Asian nations. Moreover, it analyses the consequences of two major economic indicators on COE, notably green finance and fintech. The analysis took place over a time frame of 20 years (2000–2020) to attain its goal. The analysis incorporates an extensive approach, Cup-FM and Cup-BC for the empirical perusal. The analysis outcomes illustrate the prevalence of the resource curse hypothesis in selected Asian nations. Fintech has been proven to be an essential tool for minimizing COE. Additionally, green finance acts as an essential tool for minimizing COE. In addition to this, GDP has proven to be a pertinent driver of COE. The analysis provides a variety of particular strategies intended for strengthening the circumstances of observed nations. It is essential to concentrate on the ecologically sound utilization of natural resources at present. Additionally, financial technologies must receive more of the spotlight in the general policymaking field. It is mandatory now for developing nations, to invest in green finances to boost ecological quality.
Due to the adverse impacts of climate change on the environment and biodiversity, sustainability has become a critical issue. This paper investigates the impact of digitalization on the sustainability of metallic mineral production, particularly CO2 emissions, within the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Using data from 1998 to 2020 and the cross-sectional FMOLS technique, the study finds that a 1% increase in ICT investment reduces CO2 emissions by 0.32%, and a 1% rise in Internet access decreases emissions by 0.28%. However, electrification increases emissions due to higher energy demand and fossil fuel reliance. Economic growth and metallic resource trade volume also elevate emissions. Policy recommendations include smart urban development, sustainable rural electrification, fostering internet access, and implementing green logistics in metallic production trade to enhance sustainability in RCEP countries.
The interest in social cohesion as a key driver of inclusive societies, and the pillar of sustainable economic development is still very much alive. However, the strong socio-cultural heterogeneity between social groups, conflicts, coups and socio-political crisis reinforces evidence of an undermining of social cohesion in Africa. Using system Generalized Method of Moments dynamic techniques, this paper analyses the effects of natural resource dependence on social cohesion and the underlying mechanisms in a sample of 33 African countries over the period 1990–2020. The results show that natural resources are associated negatively with social cohesion in Africa. However, the elasticity associated with point resources is greater and more significant than that for diffuse resources. Results are robust to many robustness checks, such as the alternative strategy, which combines alternative natural resources and social cohesion measures, addition of other control variables and by using outlier analysis. The human capital, institutional quality and inequality are the main channels through which natural resources affect cooperation and respect among different identity-based groups in Africa. Findings suggest further evidence about natural resources effects and provide law enforcement reform to improve human capital, institutional quality and reduce inequality, which is necessary in strengthening social cohesion in Africa. One potential pathway for such policies could focus on expanding opportunities for groups facing barriers that undermine their contribution to society, participation in decision-making and self-esteem. Therefore, African governments should improve the management of natural resources to ensure better implementation of public policies and support capacity-building and infrastructure programmes.
Export control policies for mineral resources may constrain the development of countries in the Global South. This study used data from 31 countries from 2009 to 2021 and employed a double fixed effects (FE) model to explore the impact of mineral resource export control policies implemented by countries in the Global South on sustainable energy transition. Our results show that prohibiting the export of base metals and ores significantly inhibits energy transitions. Moreover, energy transition performance improves when only licensing requirements are implemented without the enforcement of export bans and taxes. This study also highlights the importance of improved governance in mitigating the adverse effects of export prohibitions. Improvements in governance, such as corruption control, regulatory quality, rule of law, and voice/accountability, provide institutional guarantees for sustainable energy transition. This study also provides insights into measures that can help the countries in the Global South to balance resource conservation and clean energy development.
The economies of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries are linked by geography and by a policy of capital mobility. Consequently, the attractiveness of foreign direct investments (FDI) in one country is likely to be influenced by factors that explain FDI in neighboring countries, such as the endowment of natural resources. However, previous empirical studies have overlooked the spatial interaction effects of natural resources on the attractiveness of FDI in ECOWAS countries. In addition, natural resources are factors of production that can justify the location of a Multinational Enterprise in one country at the detriment of another, due to differences in the availability of natural resources. Thus, the main objective of this research is to fill this research gap by analyzing the spatial interaction effects of natural resource exploitation on the attractiveness of FDI in ECOWAS countries. Therefore, the dynamic Durbin Spatial Model (SDM) estimation method with a distance matrix was used for the analysis, covering 12 ECOWAS countries over the period 2007–2020. In addition, the use of the distance-inverse matrix with the dynamic SDM was used to analyze the spatial effects of different types of natural resources in order to test the robustness of the results. In terms of the results obtained, the findings show that the further ahead a country is in exploiting its natural resources, the more it negatively influences the attractiveness of new FDI in its bosom to the benefit of its neighboring countries, which are relatively behind in exploiting their natural resources. Specifically, the mining and forestry exploitation generates positive spillover effects, while oil and natural gas exploitation has negative spillover effects on the attractiveness of FDI from neighboring countries. A synchronization policy and a policy of compensating for the negative externalities linked to the exploitation of natural resources between ECOWAS countries would therefore make it easier to attract FDI and stimulate economic and social development.
This study explores the impact of energy diversification on economic growth in the BRICS (i.e. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) from 1995 to 2018. The study has used a newly constructed energy diversification index. The results based on the Quantile-on-Quantile (QQR) methodology demonstrate that the impact of energy diversification on the growth of the economy is heterogeneous among nations. It appears that lower and middle quantiles of the energy diversification reduce economic growth, while higher quantile of the energy diversification increases it. It is advised that the BRICS countries should develop crucial steps while transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy without hampering economic growth. It is further suggested that the BRICS countries need to ensure energy sustainability through effective energy diversification. Such steps will enhance economic prosperity for BRICS countries in the long run.