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Financial inclusion and threshold effects in carbon emissions

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  • Ben Cheikh, Nidhaleddine
  • Rault, Christophe

Abstract

Although financial inclusion would induce greater pollutant emissions through economic activity, improved access to financial services may facilitate investment in clean technologies. This study investigates whether financial inclusion has influenced the dynamics of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions over the last decade using a sample of 70 countries. We implement panel threshold techniques to explore possible regime shifts in environmental quality. Our results reveal that the influence of increased financial access on air pollution depends on the economic development stage. While financial inclusion can increase CO2 emissions in lower-income regimes, environmental quality appears to be enhanced, with more inclusiveness at later developmental stages. Less-developed countries require more robust environmental policies to align their financial inclusion initiatives with sustainable economic development.

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  • Ben Cheikh, Nidhaleddine & Rault, Christophe, 2024. "Financial inclusion and threshold effects in carbon emissions," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:192:y:2024:i:c:s0301421524002854
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2024.114265
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financial inclusion; Carbon emissions; Panel threshold modeling;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance
    • O44 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Environment and Growth
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth

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