Search results
1 – 9 of 9Bright Akwasi Gyamfi, Divine Q. Agozie, Murad A. Bein, Festus Victor Bekun and Festus Fatai Adedoyin
Discussions on environment-friendly production connected with the concerns of growing biomass emissions have gained much attention. In this regard, this study aims to explore the…
Abstract
Purpose
Discussions on environment-friendly production connected with the concerns of growing biomass emissions have gained much attention. In this regard, this study aims to explore the issue of biomass energy consumption and its related emission effects on the economic and environmental well-being of the economy of Cyprus.
Design/methodology/approach
This study sources time series data on specific variables from the Global Material Flow and the World Bank’s World Development Indicators (WDI, 2020) between 1990 and 2016. The Robust least square (ROB-L2) in conjunction with Pesaran autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) methodology analysis techniques was used in addition to the Granger causality tests to examine the direction of causality flow between the variables under consideration.
Findings
The results indicate that biomass energy usage in the long run reduces pollution and negatively correlates with CO2 emissions level. Also, the decline of emission is influenced by increased foreign direct investment (FDI), thus, activities of foreign investors contribute to combating emission in the country. According to empirical results, non-renewable energy consumption showed both positive and negative influences on increased emission level, whereas economic growth is increasing carbon dioxide emission for the case of Cyprus.
Originality/value
This study applies current reliable data that offers renewed insights and sheds light on the state of affairs on biomass utilization from a developing country perspective. Additionally, it extends the discourse on the impact of biomass utilization on CO2 emissions by considering the impact of FDI, trade flow and energy consumption in a carbon-income function built on the liner version of the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis. Although this is by no means exhaustive, the study pioneers the discourse on how FDI with biomass utilization among other relevant variables influences carbon dioxide emission.
Details
Keywords
Festus Victor Bekun, Bright Akwasi Gyamfi, Mfonobong Udom Etokakpan and Burçin Çakir
This purpose of this study is to explore the impact of global trend of economic integration and interconnectedness which has drawn the attention of world economies and their…
Abstract
Purpose
This purpose of this study is to explore the impact of global trend of economic integration and interconnectedness which has drawn the attention of world economies and their implications on trade inflow. This trajectory has its impact, either positive/negative, on key macroeconomic indicators, to say the least on environmental sustainability, especially emerging economies. To this end, the need to explore the connection between foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow and energy consumption amidst the wave of economic globalisation is timely and pertinent for the case of Turkey.
Design/methodology/approach
This study seeks to explore the interaction between the outlined variables in a carbon-income framework for annual time series data from 1970 to 2016. A series of econometrics strategies was used consisting of unit root tests to examine the stationarity properties of the highlighted series. Subsequently, Pesaran’s Bounds testing technique is used to explore the long-run equilibrium relationship between the highlighted variables in conjunction with the Johansen cointegration test. For long-run regression coefficients, Pesaran’s autoregressive distributed lag and dynamic ordinary least squares methodology are used, and innovative accounting approaches are used to explore the responsiveness of each variable on another.
Findings
Empirical results validate the pollution haven hypothesis (PHH) in the long run for the case of Turkey. Thus suggesting that FDI inflow induced environmental degradation in Turkey. Additionally, this study observed that renewable energy, on the contrary, improves the quality of the environment. This study also affirms the presence of the environmental Kuznets curve phenomenon, indicating that Turkey, at its early stage of economic trajectory, emphasis is on economic growth rather than environmental quality. This suggests a need for more deliberate action(s) by the government administrators to pursue cleaner FDI inflow and energy technologies and strategies to foster a clean environment in Turkey and a cleaner ecosystem at large.
Originality/value
This study is unique in its choice of variables which is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda to be achieved by 2030 and is very limited in the extant literature. From the economic perspective, the effect of the PHH is of interest especially to ascertain the extent the interplay among the variables has on the economy of Turkey. The empirical insights on PHH hypothesis have received less documentation in the extant literature especially for emerging economy like Turkey. Thus, this study seeks to revisit this theme for Turkey with aim to presents environmentally sustainable strategies without compromise for economic growth. Thus, this study seeks to revisit this theme.
Details
Keywords
Tehreem Fatima, Muhammad Saeed Meo, Festus Victor Bekun and Tella Oluwatoba Ibrahim
According to the crusade of the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs-6, 7,8,12 and 13) that addressed pertinent issues around, clean access to water, access to…
Abstract
Purpose
According to the crusade of the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs-6, 7,8,12 and 13) that addressed pertinent issues around, clean access to water, access to energy, responsible consumption and climate change mitigation alongside, respectively, Paris Kyoto Protocol agreement of mitigation of climate changes issues of vision 2030.
Design/methodology/approach
This purpose of this study aimed to assess the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis following the ecological footprint perspective with a data set covering the period 1995–2018. It is well-established that anthropogenic human activities are the root cause of environmental deterioration. To this end, the current study is fitted in a multivariate framework to ameliorate for omitted variable bias for the data set from 1995–2018 on a quarterly frequency using autoregressive distributive lag methodology. Subsequently, the stationarity status of the study underlines series were examined with a conventional unit root test and the Pesaran’s bounds test for cointegration analysis.
Findings
Empirical evidence from the bounds test to cointegration traces the co-integration relationship between ecological footprint, conventional energy use, foreign direct investment, international tourism arrival and water resources over the sampled period. The study, in the long run, affirms the N-shaped relationship between ecological footprint and foreign direct investment in Vietnam. Additionally, the present study validates the hypothesis of energy consumption-induced pollution emissions. The relationship between international tourism arrival and quality of the environment is statistically positive in both the short-run and long-run, as 1% in international tourism arrival worsens the quality of the environment by 0.45% and 0.4% in the short-run and long-run, respectively. Interestingly, water resource's major environmental issues that have plagued the Vietnam economy are inversely related to ecological footprint. Based on findings, Vietnamese policymakers may need to consider drafting appropriate environmental policies to tackle global warming while concurrently boosting economic development.
Originality/value
The present study focuses on Vietnam on the determinant of environmental quality measured by a broader indicator (ecological footprint). It is well-established that anthropogenic human activities are the root cause of environmental deterioration. The present study claims to distinct from previous literature in two-folds, namely, in terms of scope. Vietnam holds a very interesting energy mix and environmental dynamics, which has been ignored in the literature. Second, we argue to be the first based on our survey to explore the theme by incorporation of water resources and foreign direct investment intensification in the conventional pollution determinant model. This is in a bid to highlights the policy blueprint for the country (Vietnam), which is currently plagued with high pollution issues and the region at large.
Details
Keywords
Abdul-Razak Bawa Yussif, Stephen Taiwo Onifade, Ahmet Ay, Murat Canitez and Festus Victor Bekun
The volatility of exchange rate has generally been sighted as a primary cause for various shocks and instability in international trade of Ghana as witnessed over the years and…
Abstract
Purpose
The volatility of exchange rate has generally been sighted as a primary cause for various shocks and instability in international trade of Ghana as witnessed over the years and most especially in recent times. Hence, owing to the increasing trade levels between Ghana and Ghana's global trading partners, the study aims to investigate if the trade–exchange rate volatility nexus in Ghana supports the positive, negative or ambiguous hypotheses?
Design/methodology/approach
The study investigates the effects of Ghana's exchange rate volatility on international trade by designing import and export equations to estimate both short- and long-run specifications of the effect and employing the multivariate generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) with Baba, Engle, Kraft and Kroner (BEKK) specification developed by Engle and Kroner (1995) as a further check for the robustness of the findings. Monthly data between 1993 and 2017 on the real effective exchange rates of Ghana's trade with 143 trading partners were taken as the series for modeling the volatility using GARCH andexponential generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedastic (EGARCH) models.
Findings
The empirical results show that the volatility of exchange rate negatively impact export performances in the Ghanian economy. On the other hand, there was no sufficient evidence to support the observed positive effect of exchange rate volatility on imports, as the effects were only significant at 10% level in the long run. Thus, it is concluded that the finding cannot confirm a relationship between volatility and import. Thus, the results present differences in the direction of the effect of exchange rate volatility on imports and exports in the context of the Ghanaian economy.
Research limitations/implications
Considering the fragility of the Ghanaian economy and Ghana's macro-economic indicators, the study points at the crucial need for more integration of well-informed trade policies within the country's macro-economic policy framework to contain the impacts of exchange rate volatility on trade performances.
Practical implications
The study contributes to literature by scope and method. More specifically, empirical studies have failed or provided little evidence uniquely on the Ghanaian economy's reaction to exchange rate volatility on the country's imports and exports. Additionally, most of the existing empirical studies measure exchange rate volatility using the standard deviation of the moving averages of the logarithmic transformation of exchange rates. This method is criticized because the method is unsuccessful in capturing the effects of potential booms and bursts of the exchange rate. The authors' study circumvents for these highlighted pitfalls.
Social implications
The study contributes to literature by scope and method. More specifically, empirical studies have failed or provided little evidence uniquely on the Ghanaian economy's reaction to exchange rate volatility on the country's imports and exports. Thus, the study chat a course for socio-economic dynamic of Ghanaian economy.
Originality/value
The study contributes to literature by its scope and method, as extant empirical studies have provided little evidence specifically on the Ghanaian economy's reaction to exchange rate volatility. Additionally, most of the existing empirical studies measure exchange rate volatility using the standard deviation of the moving averages of the logarithmic transformation of exchange rates. This method is criticized because of the method's inadequacies in capturing the effects of potential booms and bursts of the exchange rate. The study thereby essentially circumvents for these highlighted pitfalls.
Details
Keywords
Festus Victor Bekun, Ashutosh Yadav, Joshua Chukwuma Onwe, Michael Provide Fumey and Mahsum Ökmen
Over the last decades, the need for sustainable energy production and consumption has been heavily discussed. However, there has been no consensus in the extant literature. Thus…
Abstract
Purpose
Over the last decades, the need for sustainable energy production and consumption has been heavily discussed. However, there has been no consensus in the extant literature. Thus, to this end, this study aims to explore the long-run and causality connection among disaggregated energy consumption, environmental tax and economic growth in a carbon-function framework for Turkey.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses annual frequency data for econometrics analysis. To this end, our analysis utilizes the autoregressive distributive lag (ARDL) technique for cointegration and long-run analysis, while the Granger causality was used for causality direction.
Findings
Economic growth drives Turkey’s Load Capacity Factor (LCF), indicating energy efficiency is linked to economic performance. Renewable energy boosts LCF, while nonrenewable energy hinders it. Population growth positively affects energy efficiency, but environmental taxes have minimal impact, suggesting policy reform is needed. These outcomes have far-reaching implications for macroeconomic policies and environmental sustainability in Turkish economy energy mix amidst its growth path.
Research limitations/implications
The findings suggest the need for policy reforms prioritizing renewable energy investments to enhance Turkey’s energy efficiency and sustainability. Additionally, the current environmental tax structure requires reevaluation to support sustainable energy practices better. These policy changes are crucial for balancing Turkey’s economic growth with environmental goals, ensuring a more sustainable energy future.
Originality/value
This study explores the role of government policy in form of environmental tax in environmental performance in Turkey.
Details
Keywords
Gildas Dohba Dinga, Dobdinga Cletus Fonchamnyo, Nkoa Bruno Emmanuel Ongo and Festus Victor Bekun
The study examined the impact of financial development, foreign direct investment, market size and trade openness on domestic investment for 119 countries divided into four panels…
Abstract
Purpose
The study examined the impact of financial development, foreign direct investment, market size and trade openness on domestic investment for 119 countries divided into four panels that are low-income countries (LIC), lower middle-income countries (LMIC), upper middle-income countries (UMIC) and high-income countries (HIC) between 1995 and 2019.
Design/methodology/approach
The present study bases its empirical procedure on the bases of the data mix. To this end, based on the presence of cross-sectional dependence, covariate-augmented Dickey–Fuller unit root and Westerlund cointegration second-generation tests were employed to validate the stationarity and cointegration of the variables, respectively. The novel Dynamic Common Correlation Effects estimator was employed to estimate the heterogeneous parameters while the Dumitrescu and Hurlin test was used to test for causality direction of the highlighted variables.
Findings
The empirical results show that market size and trade openness had a positive and statistically significant effect on domestic investment for all the income groups. Results also show that financial development had a positive and statically significant effect on domestic investment only for LMIC and HIC economies, while a positive and statistically insignificant effect was obtained for LIC, UMIC and the global panel. The causality results revealed a bidirectional relationship between domestic investment and the exogenous variables – financial development, foreign direct investment, market size and trade openness.
Research limitations/implications
It is therefore, recommended that LIC and LMIC need to consider harmonising the financial system to lower credit limitations and adopt business-friendly policies. HIC and UMIC should seek more outward FDI policies and harmonise their trade policy, to reap more benefits from FDI and international trade.
Originality/value
On novelty, previous studies have been criticised for the effect on technical innovation of bank financing and institutional quality. This research tackles the deficiency using systematic institutional quality indicators and by taking other variables into account.
Details
Keywords
Henry Oluchukwu Ikediego, Mustafa Ilkan, A. Mohammed Abubakar and Festus Victor Bekun
There is growing interest in innovative online problem-solving models such as crowdsourcing to serve individuals, firms and the society as a whole. Crowdsourcing is the…
Abstract
Purpose
There is growing interest in innovative online problem-solving models such as crowdsourcing to serve individuals, firms and the society as a whole. Crowdsourcing is the combination of efforts from various sets of individuals who are either volunteering or working part-time for socioeconomic production, basically in the cyber world. This hybrid work model is already in use by businesses and entrepreneurs; some of the platforms include Amazon mechanical Turk, 99designs, Hit RECORD and Design Crowd.
Design/methodology/approach
Much has been parleyed and published, and this is primarily because of the efficient socioeconomic potentials crowdsourcing offers.
Findings
This paper addressed the following three questions to help have a better understanding of crowdsourcing: who can perform crowdsourcing? why it is relevant to crowdsource in this present proliferated internet age and if there are going to be some changes in the future and the last but not the least what can be done to promote it in the society?
Originality/value
This paper discusses the three W’s and concludes with challenges facing the crowdsourcing work model.
Details
Keywords
Benedict Ikemefuna Uzoechina, Joseph Afolabi Ibikunle, Godwin Olasehinde-Williams and Festus Victor Bekun
The growth of both the informal sector and illicit financial outflows necessitated this study, in order to investigate how countries in Africa respond to these realities in terms…
Abstract
Purpose
The growth of both the informal sector and illicit financial outflows necessitated this study, in order to investigate how countries in Africa respond to these realities in terms of mobilization of domestic resources. These are the main motivation for the current study to the extant literature in conjunction with the adoption of employing second-generation econometric techniques which take into account cross-sectional dependence and country-specific heterogeneity.
Design/methodology/approach
This study therefore examined the capacity of Africa to mobilize domestic resources amidst rising illicit financial outflows and informal sector size in selected African countries between 2000 and 2018. Second-generation econometric techniques such as cross-sectional dependence tests, slope homogeneity tests, Westerlund (2007) long-run co-integration tests, Eberhardt and Teal (2010) augmented mean group estimations and Kónya (2006) panel causality testing were employed.
Findings
Findings revealed the existence of cross-sectional dependence and slope homogeneity in the data series. Findings also supported the existence of depressing long-run impacts of IFOs and ISS on domestic savings. Causality test results were not uniform across variables among countries. Policy recommendations favour formalizing the largely informal African economies through budgetary policy adjustments and commitment to building stronger institutions.
Practical implications
The fragility of the African countries economy and its macroeconomic indicators is suggestive for more policy construction.
Originality/value
This economic reality about the nature of the informal sector is one that has negated the traditional view which holds that economic reforms would make the informal sector shrink as it transits to formal sector. Experiences from Latin America and Africa in fact indicate that the informal sector is actually on an expansionary path in the wake of adjustment and policy reforms. It is often called the unobserved, unorganized or unprotected economy. With this sector growing in size, the possibility of a reverse may not be in sight, owing to the increasing poverty levels and unemployment prevalent in most African countries. Uncertain foreign investment and aid inflows coupled with lower export revenues and high levels of indebtedness have created new impetus to examine the capacity of Africa's fiscal policy regime to mobilise domestic resources for the development of the region. Surprisingly, the last decade witnessed continued rise in Africa's illicit financial outflows amidst large informal sector size (ISS).
Details
Keywords
The present study aims to examine the moderating impact of governance quality on the tourism poverty nexus using a panel of six South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation…
Abstract
Purpose
The present study aims to examine the moderating impact of governance quality on the tourism poverty nexus using a panel of six South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries during the period 2002 to 2019.
Design/methodology/approach
For the soundness of the results, fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS) and dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS) econometric models were applied to determine the long-run relationship.
Findings
The findings confirmed the positive and significant impact of tourism development (international tourism arrival) and governance quality (effectiveness of governmental services) on poverty (per capita household consumption) reduction. Interestingly results confirm that governance quality and tourism development have complementary impacts on poverty reduction.
Originality/value
The present study has twofold contributions; First, despite the high potential of SAARC tourism, research remains limited in studies examining the role of tourism and governance quality on poverty reduction within the SAARC region. As a result, the present paper presents critical insights into the impact of tourism inflow and governance quality on poverty reduction in South Asian countries. Second, to the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first attempt to conduct an econometric analysis to examine the role of governance quality on the relationship between tourism inflow and poverty reduction in SAARC countries.