Balancing the scales

Does public debt and energy poverty mitigate or exacerbate ecological distortions in Nigeria

Bibliographic Data

ID7811075
AuthorsUju Regina Ezenekwe (0000-0003-2751-4602, Department of Economics Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Nigeria), Kingsley Ikechukwu Okere (0000-0002-1845-4583, Department of Banking and Finance Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University Imo State Nigeria), Stephen Kelechi Dimnwobi (0000-0002-5964-9627, Department of Economics Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Nigeria, corresponding author), Chukwunonso Ekesiobi (0000-0002-8750-7175, Department of Economics Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Igbariam Nigeria)
Year2024
Volume74
Issue252
Pages451-475
Publication date2024-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Social Science Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0020-8701 • E-ISSN: 1468-2451
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/issj.12465
OpenAlexW4387595092
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited71

Amid Nigeria's economic growth and energy challenges, the escalating public debt (PB) levels and persistent energy poverty (EP) raise critical questions about their potential impacts on the environment. Given the potential conflict among economic development, EP alleviation and ecological conservation, it becomes pertinent to understand whether increased PB and efforts to address EP inadvertently contribute to or alleviate ecological imbalances within the country. Hence, this research investigates the effect of PB and EP on the load capacity factor (LCF) in Nigeria. Using the STIRPAT model and annual data from 1990 to 2021, the study explores the relationships among total PB, EP, gross domestic product per capita, urbanization and LCF. Descriptive analysis, correlation assessments and unit‐root tests precede the data analysis conducted with the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model and dynamic ARDL (DARDL) technique. Key findings reveal significant negative effects of urbanization and EP on LCF. Additionally, the ARDL and DARDL procedure highlights a positive long‐term relationship between PB and LCF. Both ARDL and DARDL analyses show a negative short‐term relationship between GDP growth per capita and LCF, signalling the need for sustainable economic practices. The study concludes with policy recommendations that aim to promote sustainable development and address ecological imbalances by tackling EP and PB challenges in Nigeria

Biology · Debt · Descriptive statistics · Development economics · Distributed lag · Econometrics · Economic growth · Economics · Gross domestic product · Macroeconomics · Natural resource economics · Per capita · Poverty · Sustainability · Sustainable development · Urbanization · Ecology · Energy and Environment Impacts · Energy, Environment, and Transportation Policies · Energy, Environment, Economic Growth

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Open DOIOpen Access