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Exploring the moderating role of financial development in environmental Kuznets curve for South Africa: fresh evidence from the novel dynamic ARDL simulations approach

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  • Maxwell Chukwudi Udeagha

    (University of Pretoria, Hatfield Campus)

  • Marthinus Christoffel Breitenbach

    (University of Pretoria, Hatfield Campus)

Abstract

The extant literature has produced mixed evidence on the relationship between financial development and ecological sustainability. This work addresses this conundrum by investigating financial development’s direct and indirect consequences on ecological quality utilizing the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) methodological approach. Our empirical analysis is based on the novel dynamic autoregressive distributed lag simulations approach for South Africa between 1960 and 2020. The results, which used five distinct financial development measures, demonstrate that financial development boosts ecological integrity and environmental sustainability over the long and short terms. In the instance of South Africa, we additionally confirm the validity of the EKC theory. More importantly, the outcomes of the indirect channels demonstrate that financial development increases energy usage’s role in causing pollution while attenuating the detrimental impacts of economic growth, trade openness, and foreign direct investment on ecological quality. Moreover, the presence of an inadequate financial system is a requirement for the basis of the pollution haven hypothesis (PHH), which we examine using trade openness and foreign direct investment variables. PHH for both of these variables disappears when financial development crosses specified thresholds. Finally, industrial value addition destroys ecological quality while technological innovation enhances it. This research provides some crucial policy recommendations and fresh perspectives for South Africa as it develops national initiatives to support ecological sustainability and reach its net zero emissions goal.

Suggested Citation

  • Maxwell Chukwudi Udeagha & Marthinus Christoffel Breitenbach, 2023. "Exploring the moderating role of financial development in environmental Kuznets curve for South Africa: fresh evidence from the novel dynamic ARDL simulations approach," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 9(1), pages 1-52, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:fininn:v:9:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1186_s40854-022-00396-9
    DOI: 10.1186/s40854-022-00396-9
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    Cited by:

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    3. Xu, Ting & Hordofa, Tolassa Temesgen & Kaur, Prabjot & Dongsheng, Chen & Muda, Iskandar, 2024. "Natural resources management efficiency: The role of green innovation for digital government," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    4. Yan, Chen & Murshed, Muntasir & Ozturk, Ilhan & Siddik, Abu Bakkar & Ghardallou, Wafa & Khudoykulov, Khurshid, 2023. "Decarbonization blueprints for developing countries: The role of energy productivity, renewable energy, and financial development in environmental improvement," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    5. Maxwell Chukwudi Udeagha & Marthinus Christoffel Breitenbach, 2024. "Investigating Financial Development and Its Direct and Indirect Environmental Effects in South Africa: Fresh Policy Insights," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 36(2), pages 428-495, April.
    6. Ahakwa, Isaac & Xu, Yi & Tackie, Evelyn Agba, 2023. "Greening human capital towards environmental quality in Ghana: Insight from the novel dynamic ARDL simulation approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    7. Gökçe Tekin Turhan & Pınar Tokal & Gamze Sart, 2023. "The Role of Financial Sector Development and Educational Attainment in the Achievement of Economic Sustainability: Evidence from BRICS Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-18, March.
    8. Yahya, Farzan & Lee, Chien-Chiang, 2023. "Disentangling the asymmetric effect of financialization on the green output gap," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    9. Muntazir Hussain & Ramiz Ur Rehman & Usman Bashir, 2024. "Environmental pollution, innovation, and financial development: an empirical investigation in selected industrialized countries using the panel ARDL approach," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(11), pages 29217-29248, November.
    10. Aleena Shamim & Sana Raza & Saif Ur Rahman & Salman Masood Sheikh, 2023. "Examining the Influence of Green Finance, FinTech, and Environmental Innovation on Environmental Degradation in G-20 Nations: A Comprehensive Review," Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE), Research Foundation for Humanity (RFH), vol. 12(4), pages 621-627.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financial development; Trade openness; CO2 emissions; Dynamic ARDL simulations; Energy consumption; EKC; Cointegration; Economic growth; Foreign direct investment; Industrial value-added; South Africa;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F18 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Environment
    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • 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
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • F1 - International Economics - - Trade
    • F41 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Open Economy Macroeconomics

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