Financial Market Depth, Access, and Efficiency and Environment Nexus in MENA Region: Cross-Sectional Dependence Analysis

Tariq Qaysi ()
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Tariq Qaysi: Department of Finance, College of Business Administration, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 173, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-19

Abstract: Financial markets have great potential to reduce environmental issues and promote sustainability in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The research aims to examine the impact of financial market access, depth, and efficiency on CO 2 emissions in 17 MENA countries from 1980 to 2021. Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita has a positive effect on CO 2 emissions. However, its square term does not impact CO 2 emissions. Moreover, financial market access (FMA) and financial market depth (FMD) contribute to increased emissions, whereas financial market efficiency (FME) has a mitigating effect on emissions. The findings suggest that policymakers and regulators in the MENA region should enhance FME to further reduce CO 2 emissions. However, FMA and FMD require policy intervention to limit the financing for pollution-intensive activities and promote funding for renewable projects to support a cleaner environment in the region.

Keywords: financial market access; financial market depth; financial market efficiency; sustainability; carbon emission; SDGs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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