IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jrpoli/v93y2024ics0301420724004495.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Natural resources, trade and fintech in the era of digitalization: A study of economies involved in Belt and Road Initiative

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaobin, Wang
  • Wu, Fuxi
  • Alharthi, Majed
  • Raza, Syed Muhammad Faraz
  • Albalawi, Olayan

Abstract

The present study aims to elucidate the impact of digitalization, fintech, trade, and industrial growth on natural resource consumption in emerging economies within the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries. Employing the Cross-sectional Augmented Autoregressive Distributed Lag (CS-ARDL) method to mitigate Cross-sectional Dependence (CD) and heterogeneity in slope parameters across panels, this study investigates the previously mentioned relationship. Meticulously selecting panel data from twenty-four emerging countries spanning from 1995 to 2021 in the BRI region, the study offers a robust analysis. The findings of this study reveal the positive impact of digitalization on natural resources, as the proliferation of digital devices, data centers, and internet connectivity contributes to higher energy demands, surging the use of natural resources like fossil fuels and electricity. However, the negative impact of fintech on natural resource consumption shows the adoption of energy-efficient technologies, implementation of e-waste management policies, and advocacy for renewable energy addition in energy system. The result shows trade can reduce pressure on natural resources and endorses that BRI can improve trade activities in the member countries, however, actions such as emphasizing green technology adoption, allocating funds for conservation, promoting sustainable resource management, and investing in resource-efficient production, may contribute positively to preserving natural resources in the member nations. Thus comprehensive approach encompassing trade, industrial growth, and the promotion of financial technologies, collectively could strengthen sustainable resource management efforts in the BRI economies.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaobin, Wang & Wu, Fuxi & Alharthi, Majed & Raza, Syed Muhammad Faraz & Albalawi, Olayan, 2024. "Natural resources, trade and fintech in the era of digitalization: A study of economies involved in Belt and Road Initiative," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:93:y:2024:i:c:s0301420724004495
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2024.105082
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301420724004495
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.resourpol.2024.105082?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. Daron Acemoglu & Philippe Aghion & Leonardo Bursztyn & David Hemous, 2012. "The Environment and Directed Technical Change," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 102(1), pages 131-166, February.
    2. Xi, Xun & Xi, Baoxing & Miao, Chenglin & Yu, Rongjian & Xie, Jie & Xiang, Rong & Hu, Feng, 2022. "Factors influencing technological innovation efficiency in the Chinese video game industry: Applying the meta-frontier approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    3. Duan, Wenqi & Li, Chen, 2023. "Be alert to dangers: Collapse and avoidance strategies of platform ecosystems," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    4. Zhang, Shangfeng & Zhang, Chaojie & Su, Zitian & Zhu, Mengyue & Ren, Huiru, 2023. "New structural economic growth model and labor income share," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    5. Zheng, Chengting & Wu, Shufang & Teng, Yin-Pei & Wu, Shuzhao & Wang, Zhe, 2023. "Natural resources, tourism resources and economic growth: A new direction to natural resources perspective and investment," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PB).
    6. Kui Wang & Yang Hu & Jing Zhou & Feng Hu, 2023. "Fintech, Financial Constraints and OFDI: Evidence from China," Global Economic Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(4), pages 326-345, October.
    7. Max J. Krause & Thabet Tolaymat, 2018. "Author Correction: Quantification of energy and carbon costs for mining cryptocurrencies," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(12), pages 814-814, December.
    8. Gao, Huasheng & Liu, Zhengkai & Yang, Chloe Chunliu, 2023. "Individual investors’ trading behavior and gender difference in tolerance of sex crimes: Evidence from a natural experiment," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 349-368.
    9. Xu, Aiting & Song, Miaoyuan & Xu, Shenyi & Wang, Wenpu, 2024. "Accelerated green patent examination and innovation benefits: An analysis of private economic value and public environmental benefits," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    10. Joan Enric Ricart & Michael J Enright & Pankaj Ghemawat & Stuart L Hart & Tarun Khanna, 2004. "New frontiers in international strategy," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 35(3), pages 175-200, May.
    11. Li, Baolin & Wang, Jia & Nassani, Abdelmohsen A. & Binsaeed, Rima H. & Li, Zeyun, 2023. "The future of Green energy: A panel study on the role of renewable resources in the transition to a Green economy," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(PB).
    12. Duan, Wenqi & Madasi, Joseph David & Khurshid, Adnan & Ma, Dan, 2022. "Industrial structure conditions economic resilience," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    13. World Bank, 2020. "World Development Report 2020," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 32437.
    14. Zhao, Shuang & Zhang, Liqun & Peng, Lin & Zhou, Haiyan & Hu, Feng, 2024. "Enterprise pollution reduction through digital transformation? Evidence from Chinese manufacturing enterprises," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    15. Peter Gomber & Jascha-Alexander Koch & Michael Siering, 2017. "Digital Finance and FinTech: current research and future research directions," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 87(5), pages 537-580, July.
    16. Dai, Yanke & Du, Ting & Gao, Huasheng & Gu, Yan & Wang, Yongqin, 2024. "Patent pledgeability, trade secrecy, and corporate patenting," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    17. Max J. Krause & Thabet Tolaymat, 2018. "Quantification of energy and carbon costs for mining cryptocurrencies," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(11), pages 711-718, November.
    18. Li, Xuetao & Jiang, Yufen & Xin, Xing & Nassani, Abdelmohsen A. & Yang, Chengying, 2024. "The asymmetric role of natural resources, fintech and green innovations in the Chinese economy. Evidence from QARDL approach," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    19. Zhang, Xu & Yang, Xian & He, Qizhi, 2022. "Multi-scale systemic risk and spillover networks of commodity markets in the bullish and bearish regimes," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    20. Christian Haddad & Lars Hornuf, 2019. "The emergence of the global fintech market: economic and technological determinants," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 53(1), pages 81-105, June.
    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. Hasan, Mohammad Maruf & Hasan, Md Enamul & Ghosh, Tusher, 2024. "Transforming developing economies by shifting paradigms beyond natural resources. The fintech and social dynamics for sustainable mineral policy," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    2. Zhou, Yasong & Li, Yuqing & Chen, Chen, 2024. "The key role of digital governance, natural resource depletion, and industrialization in social well-being: A case study of China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    3. Feng, Xinzhen & Zhou, Dequn & Hussain, Tufail, 2024. "An investigation of fintech governance, natural resources and government stability on sustainability: Policy suggestions under the SDGs theme," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    4. Tang, Yi, 2024. "Nexus of natural resource depletion, corruption and financial inclusion on bio-diversity loss: A systematic study on corrupt economies," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    5. Javed, Hasnain & Du, Jianguo & Iqbal, Shuja & Nassani, Abdelmohsen A. & Basheer, Muhammad Farhan, 2024. "The impact of mineral resource abundance on environmental degradation in ten mineral- rich countries: Do the green innovation and financial technology matter?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    6. Chien, FengSheng & Zhang, YunQian & Lin, ZiQi & Lin, YuChao & Sadiq, Muhammad, 2024. "An integrated perspective on fintech, green innovation and natural resource rent: Evidence from Asia," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    7. Michael L. Polemis & Mike G. Tsionas, 2023. "The environmental consequences of blockchain technology: A Bayesian quantile cointegration analysis for Bitcoin," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(2), pages 1602-1621, April.
    8. Shize Qin & Lena Klaa{ss}en & Ulrich Gallersdorfer & Christian Stoll & Da Zhang, 2020. "Bitcoin's future carbon footprint," Papers 2011.02612, arXiv.org, revised Jan 2021.
    9. Yufei Cao & Abdulmajeed Mawhan H. Alfadhli & Mohammad Jaradat & Ramona Lile & Mihaela Gadoiu & Mariana Banuta & Daniela Mihai & Malik Shahzad Shabbir, 2024. "The impact of accounting practices on financial sustainability: A study of external block-holders and institutional ownership," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 18(7), pages 1945-1961, July.
    10. Mustafa Raza Rabbani & Shahnawaz Khan & Eleftherios I. Thalassinos, 2020. "FinTech, Blockchain and Islamic Finance: An Extensive Literature Review," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(2), pages 65-86.
    11. Arfaoui, Nadia & Naeem, Muhammad Abubakr & Boubaker, Sabri & Mirza, Nawazish & Karim, Sitara, 2023. "Interdependence of clean energy and green markets with cryptocurrencies," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    12. Pavel Ciaian & Andrej Cupak & Pirmin Fessler & d'Artis Kancs, 2022. "Environmental-Social-Governance Preferences and Investments in Crypto-Assets (Pavel Ciaian, Andrej Cupak, Pirmin Fessler, d’Artis Kancs)," Working Papers 243, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank).
    13. Bankole I. Oladapo & Mattew A. Olawumi & Francis T. Omigbodun, 2024. "Renewable Energy Credits Transforming Market Dynamics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-17, October.
    14. Ye, Wang & Wong, Wing-Keung & Arnone, Gioia & Nassani, Abdelmohsen A. & Haffar, Mohamed & Faiz, Muhammad Fauzinudin, 2023. "Crypto currency and green investment impact on global environment: A time series analysis," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 155-169.
    15. Elise Alfieri & Yann Ferrat, 2022. "Une meilleure rémunération des mineurs : un effet positif sur la performance financière des cryptomonnaies," Innovations, De Boeck Université, vol. 0(2), pages 53-77.
    16. Wang, Xiaoting & Hou, Siyuan & Kyaw, Khine & Xue, Xupeng & Liu, Xueqin, 2023. "Exploring the determinants of Fintech Credit: A comprehensive analysis," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    17. Hiranya Dissanayake & Catalin Popescu & Anuradha Iddagoda, 2023. "A Bibliometric Analysis of Financial Technology: Unveiling the Research Landscape," FinTech, MDPI, vol. 2(3), pages 1-16, August.
    18. Fung, Derrick W.H. & Lee, Wing Yan & Yeh, Jason J.H. & Yuen, Fei Lung, 2020. "Friend or foe: The divergent effects of FinTech on financial stability," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    19. Fatih Ecer & Tolga Murat & Hasan Dinçer & Serhat Yüksel, 2024. "A fuzzy BWM and MARCOS integrated framework with Heronian function for evaluating cryptocurrency exchanges: a case study of Türkiye," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 10(1), pages 1-29, December.
    20. Avani Raval & Rajesh Desai, 2024. "Reviews and directions of FinTech research: bibliometric–content analysis approach," Journal of Financial Services Marketing, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 29(3), pages 1115-1134, September.

    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:jrpoli:v:93:y:2024:i:c:s0301420724004495. 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/locate/inca/30467 .

    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.