IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v376y2024ipbs0306261924016805.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Digital economy, financial development and energy transition in Africa: Exploring for synergies and nonlinearities

Author

Listed:
  • Horvey, Sylvester Senyo
  • Odei-Mensah, Jones
  • Moloi, Tankiso
  • Bokpin, Godfred A.

Abstract

The transition to sustainable energy for all is a crucial aspect of the sustainable development goals, particularly Goal 7, which underscores the need for clean and affordable energy. This requires the development of digital infrastructure and a strong financial system. As a result, this study contributes to knowledge by exploring the synergies and nonlinear effects of the digital economy and financial development on renewable energy, which remains underexplored. To this effect, this study recruits the dynamic panel threshold and the generalised method of moments estimations to evaluate the linear, synergies and nonlinearities among these factors using a panel of forty-seven African countries. The key empirical results are stated as follows: (1) renewable energy is positively impacted by the digital economy; (2) the impact of the digital economy on renewable energy is moderated by financial development. This suggests that to ensure the propelling effect of the digital economy on renewable energy, there is a need for a stable and robust financial system; and (3) the study further found nonlinear effects of the digital economy and financial development on renewable energy, which takes a U-shaped relationship, implying that low level of digitalisation and financial development may hinder the transition to renewable energy, while high levels of these factors are essential to expedite the transition to a more sustainable energy system. Hence, African countries must embrace digitalisation and commit significant financial resources to developing their digital infrastructure to facilitate the achievement of the net zero agenda.

Suggested Citation

  • Horvey, Sylvester Senyo & Odei-Mensah, Jones & Moloi, Tankiso & Bokpin, Godfred A., 2024. "Digital economy, financial development and energy transition in Africa: Exploring for synergies and nonlinearities," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 376(PB).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:376:y:2024:i:pb:s0306261924016805
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.124297
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261924016805
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.124297?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yating Zeng & Xinyue Xu & Yuyao Zhao & Bin Li, 2023. "Impact of Digital Economy on the Upgrading of Energy Consumption Structure: Evidence from Mainland China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-18, March.
    2. Danish, & Ulucak, Recep, 2021. "Renewable energy, technological innovation and the environment: A novel dynamic auto-regressive distributive lag simulation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    3. Caner, Mehmet & Hansen, Bruce E., 2004. "Instrumental Variable Estimation Of A Threshold Model," Econometric Theory, Cambridge University Press, vol. 20(5), pages 813-843, October.
    4. Hansen, Bruce E., 1999. "Threshold effects in non-dynamic panels: Estimation, testing, and inference," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 93(2), pages 345-368, December.
    5. Chang, Lei & Taghizadeh-Hesary, Farhad & Saydaliev, Hayot Berk, 2022. "How do ICT and renewable energy impact sustainable development?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 123-131.
    6. Tamazian, Artur & Bhaskara Rao, B., 2010. "Do economic, financial and institutional developments matter for environmental degradation? Evidence from transitional economies," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 137-145, January.
    7. Lahiani, Amine & Mefteh-Wali, Salma & Shahbaz, Muhammad & Vo, Xuan Vinh, 2021. "Does financial development influence renewable energy consumption to achieve carbon neutrality in the USA?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    8. Ross Levine, 1997. "Financial Development and Economic Growth: Views and Agenda," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 35(2), pages 688-726, June.
    9. Levine, Ross, 2005. "Finance and Growth: Theory and Evidence," Handbook of Economic Growth, in: Philippe Aghion & Steven Durlauf (ed.), Handbook of Economic Growth, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 12, pages 865-934, Elsevier.
    10. Islam, Faridul & Shahbaz, Muhammad & Ahmed, Ashraf U. & Alam, Md. Mahmudul, 2013. "Financial development and energy consumption nexus in Malaysia: A multivariate time series analysis," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 435-441.
    11. Blundell, Richard & Bond, Stephen, 1998. "Initial conditions and moment restrictions in dynamic panel data models," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 87(1), pages 115-143, August.
    12. Pan, Wenrong & Xie, Tao & Wang, Zhuwang & Ma, Lisha, 2022. "Digital economy: An innovation driver for total factor productivity," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 303-311.
    13. Anton, Sorin Gabriel & Afloarei Nucu, Anca Elena, 2020. "The effect of financial development on renewable energy consumption. A panel data approach," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(P1), pages 330-338.
    14. Charfeddine, Lanouar & Kahia, Montassar, 2019. "Impact of renewable energy consumption and financial development on CO2 emissions and economic growth in the MENA region: A panel vector autoregressive (PVAR) analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 198-213.
    15. Sylvester Senyo Horvey & Dennis Boahene Osei & Imhotep Paul Alagidede, 2023. "Insurance Penetration and Inclusive Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Panel Linear and Nonlinear Analysis," International Economic Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(4), pages 618-645, October.
    16. Benedetti, Ilaria & Guarini, Giulio & Laureti, Tiziana, 2023. "Digitalization in Europe: A potential driver of energy efficiency for the twin transition policy strategy," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    17. Hassan, M. Kabir & Sanchez, Benito & Yu, Jung-Suk, 2011. "Financial development and economic growth: New evidence from panel data," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 88-104, February.
    18. Talan, Amogh & Rao, Amar & Sharma, Gagan Deep & Apostu, Simona-Andreea & Abbas, Shujaat, 2023. "Transition towards clean energy consumption in G7: Can financial sector, ICT and democracy help?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    19. Feng, Chao & Liu, Yu-Qi & Yang, Jun, 2024. "Do energy trade patterns affect renewable energy development? The threshold role of digital economy and economic freedom," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    20. Stephanie Kremer & Alexander Bick & Dieter Nautz, 2013. "Inflation and growth: new evidence from a dynamic panel threshold analysis," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 44(2), pages 861-878, April.
    21. Kouton, Jeffrey, 2019. "Information Communication Technology development and energy demand in African countries," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    22. Myung Hwan Seo & Sueyoul Kim & Young-Joo Kim, 2019. "Estimation of dynamic panel threshold model using Stata," Stata Journal, StataCorp LLC, vol. 19(3), pages 685-697, September.
    23. Mukhtarov, Shahriyar & Yüksel, Serhat & Dinçer, Hasan, 2022. "The impact of financial development on renewable energy consumption: Evidence from Turkey," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 169-176.
    24. Ozturk, Ilhan & Acaravci, Ali, 2013. "The long-run and causal analysis of energy, growth, openness and financial development on carbon emissions in Turkey," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 262-267.
    25. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Wang, Fuhao, 2022. "How does digital inclusive finance affect carbon intensity?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 174-190.
    26. Dong, Kangyin & Liu, Yang & Wang, Jianda & Dong, Xiucheng, 2024. "Is the digital economy an effective tool for decreasing energy vulnerability? A global case," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    27. Khan, Yasir & Oubaih, Hana & Elgourrami, Fatima Zahra, 2022. "The effect of renewable energy sources on carbon dioxide emissions: Evaluating the role of governance, and ICT in Morocco," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 752-763.
    28. Huang, Yongming & Haseeb, Mohammad & Usman, Muhammad & Ozturk, Ilhan, 2022. "Dynamic association between ICT, renewable energy, economic complexity and ecological footprint: Is there any difference between E-7 (developing) and G-7 (developed) countries?," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    29. Seo, Myung Hwan & Shin, Yongcheol, 2016. "Dynamic panels with threshold effect and endogeneity," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 195(2), pages 169-186.
    30. Tamazian, Artur & Chousa, Juan Piñeiro & Vadlamannati, Krishna Chaitanya, 2009. "Does higher economic and financial development lead to environmental degradation: Evidence from BRIC countries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 246-253, January.
    31. Brandt, Loren & Thun, Eric, 2016. "Constructing a Ladder for Growth: Policy, Markets, and Industrial Upgrading in China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 78-95.
    32. Shahbaz, Muhammad & Wang, Jianda & Dong, Kangyin & Zhao, Jun, 2022. "The impact of digital economy on energy transition across the globe: The mediating role of government governance," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    33. Sadorsky, Perry, 2010. "The impact of financial development on energy consumption in emerging economies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(5), pages 2528-2535, May.
    34. Brambor, Thomas & Clark, William Roberts & Golder, Matt, 2006. "Understanding Interaction Models: Improving Empirical Analyses," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 14(1), pages 63-82, January.
    35. Montassar Kahia & Bilel Jarraya & Bassem Kahouli & Anis Omri, 2023. "Do Environmental Innovation and Green Energy Matter for Environmental Sustainability? Evidence from Saudi Arabia (1990–2018)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-18, January.
    36. Lin, Boqiang & Huang, Chenchen, 2023. "Promoting variable renewable energy integration: The moderating effect of digitalization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 337(C).
    37. Omri, Anis & kahouli, Bassem & Kahia, Montassar, 2024. "Environmental sustainability and health outcomes: Do ICT diffusion and technological innovation matter?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(PB), pages 1-11.
    38. Yao, Shuai & Gu, Wei & Wu, Jianzhong & Lu, Hai & Zhang, Suhan & Zhou, Yue & Lu, Shuai, 2022. "Dynamic energy flow analysis of the heat-electricity integrated energy systems with a novel decomposition-iteration algorithm," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    39. Zheng, Mingbo & Wong, Chun Yee, 2024. "The impact of digital economy on renewable energy development in China," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(1).
    40. Wang, Rui & Luo, Hang (Robin), 2022. "How does financial inclusion affect bank stability in emerging economies?," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(PA).
    41. Lee, Chien-Chiang & He, Zhi-Wen & Xiao, Fu, 2022. "How does information and communication technology affect renewable energy technology innovation? International evidence," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 546-557.
    42. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Yuan, Zihao & Wang, Qiaoru, 2022. "How does information and communication technology affect energy security? International evidence," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    43. Andile Dube & Sylvester Senyo Horvey, 2023. "Institutional quality and renewable energy capital flows in Africa," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 1-16, December.
    44. Sun, Chuanwang & Khan, Anwar & Xue, Juntao & Huang, Xiaoyong, 2024. "Are digital economy and financial structure driving renewable energy technology innovations: A major eight countries perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 362(C).
    45. Patrick Schulte & Heinz Welsch & Sascha Rexhäuser, 2016. "ICT and the Demand for Energy: Evidence from OECD Countries," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 63(1), pages 119-146, January.
    46. Manuel Arellano & Stephen Bond, 1991. "Some Tests of Specification for Panel Data: Monte Carlo Evidence and an Application to Employment Equations," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 58(2), pages 277-297.
    47. Rudra P. Pradhan & Mak B. Arvin & John H. Hall & Sara E. Bennett, 2018. "Mobile telephony, economic growth, financial development, foreign direct investment, and imports of ICT goods: the case of the G-20 countries," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 45(2), pages 279-310, June.
    48. Bano, Sadia & Liu, Lu & Khan, Anwar, 2022. "Dynamic influence of aging, industrial innovations, and ICT on tourism development and renewable energy consumption in BRICS economies," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 431-442.
    49. David Gibbs, 2006. "Prospects for an Environmental Economic Geography: Linking Ecological Modernization and Regulationist Approaches," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 82(2), pages 193-215, April.
    50. Yi, Ming & Liu, Yafen & Sheng, Mingyue Selena & Wen, Le, 2022. "Effects of digital economy on carbon emission reduction: New evidence from China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    51. Li, Guoxiang & Wu, Haoyue & Jiang, Jieshu & Zong, Qingqing, 2023. "Digital finance and the low-carbon energy transition (LCET) from the perspective of capital-biased technical progress," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    52. Çoban, Serap & Topcu, Mert, 2013. "The nexus between financial development and energy consumption in the EU: A dynamic panel data analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 81-88.
    53. Mohsin S. Khan & Abdelhak S. Senhadji, 2003. "Financial Development and Economic Growth: A Review and New Evidence," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 12(Supplemen), pages 89-110, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Samargandi, Nahla & Fidrmuc, Jan & Ghosh, Sugata, 2015. "Is the Relationship Between Financial Development and Economic Growth Monotonic? Evidence from a Sample of Middle-Income Countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 66-81.
    2. Sun, Chuanwang & Khan, Anwar & Xue, Juntao & Huang, Xiaoyong, 2024. "Are digital economy and financial structure driving renewable energy technology innovations: A major eight countries perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 362(C).
    3. Croutzet, Alexandre & Dabbous, Amal, 2021. "Do FinTech trigger renewable energy use? Evidence from OECD countries," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 1608-1617.
    4. Zhao, Dengfeng & Lin, Jingting & Bashir, Muhammad Adnan, 2024. "Analyze the effect of energy efficiency, natural resources, and the digital economy on ecological footprint in OCED countries: The mediating role of renewable energy," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    5. Dong-Hyeon Kim & Yi-Chen Wu & Shu-Chin Lin, 2022. "Carbon dioxide emissions, financial development and political institutions," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 55(2), pages 837-874, May.
    6. Uddin, Md. Kamal & Pan, Xiongfeng & Saima, Umme & Zhang, Chengming, 2022. "Influence of financial development on energy intensity subject to technological innovation: Evidence from panel threshold regression," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PD).
    7. Mansor H. Ibrahim, 2018. "Trade–finance complementarity and carbon emission intensity: panel evidence from middle-income countries," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 38(4), pages 489-500, December.
    8. Ouarda Belkacem Layachi, 2019. "Effects of Energy Prices on Environmental Pollution: Testing Environmental Kuznets Curve for Algeria," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 9(5), pages 401-408.
    9. Awoa, Paul Awoa & Efogo, Françoise Okah & Ondoa, Henri Atangana, 2023. "Oil dependence and entrepreneurship: Non-linear evidence," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 47(1).
    10. Zhongye Sun & Xin Zhang & Yifei Gao, 2023. "The Impact of Financial Development on Renewable Energy Consumption: A Multidimensional Analysis Based on Global Panel Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-20, February.
    11. Wang, You & Gong, Xu, 2020. "Does financial development have a non-linear impact on energy consumption? Evidence from 30 provinces in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    12. Çoban, Serap & Topcu, Mert, 2013. "The nexus between financial development and energy consumption in the EU: A dynamic panel data analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 81-88.
    13. Sanjoy Kumar Saha, 2024. "Does the Impact of the Foreign Direct Investment on Labor Productivity Change Depending on Productive Capacity?," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(2), pages 8588-8620, June.
    14. Qamruzzaman, Md & Jianguo, Wei, 2020. "The asymmetric relationship between financial development, trade openness, foreign capital flows, and renewable energy consumption: Fresh evidence from panel NARDL investigation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 827-842.
    15. Qusai Mohammad Qasim Alabed & Fathin Faizah Said & Zulkefly Abdul Karim & Mohd Azlan Shah Zaidi & Mohammed Daher Alshammary, 2021. "Energy–Growth Nexus in the MENA Region: A Dynamic Panel Threshold Estimation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-18, November.
    16. Kim, Dong-Hyeon & Wu, Yi-Chen & Lin, Shu-Chin, 2020. "Carbon dioxide emissions and the finance curse," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    17. Chun Jiang & Xiaoxin Ma, 2019. "The Impact of Financial Development on Carbon Emissions: A Global Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-22, September.
    18. Huang, Chenchen & Lin, Boqiang, 2024. "How digital economy index selection and model uncertainty will affect energy green transition," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    19. Paramati, Sudharshan Reddy & Alam, Md Samsul & Apergis, Nicholas, 2018. "The role of stock markets on environmental degradation: A comparative study of developed and emerging market economies across the globe," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 19-30.
    20. Péter Benczúr & Virmantas Kvedaras, 2021. "Nonlinear impact of financial deepening on income inequality," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 1939-1967, April.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Digital economy; Financial development; Renewable energy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights
    • Q2 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:376:y:2024:i:pb:s0306261924016805. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.