Does economic complexity matter for environmental sustainability? Using ecological footprint as an indicator

Muhammad Zahid Rafique (), Abdul Majeed Nadeem (), Wanjun Xia (), Majid Ikram (), Hafiz Shoaib and Umer Shahzad ()
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Muhammad Zahid Rafique: Shandong University
Abdul Majeed Nadeem: Government College University
Wanjun Xia: Anhui University of Finance and Economics
Majid Ikram: Shandong University

Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, 2022, vol. 24, issue 4, No 6, 4623-4640

Abstract: Abstract The current decade has witnessed the rise of empirical research in the domain of ecological footprint which has become a major scholarly area among environmental researchers. However, many key factors determining ecological footprint have been inadequately dealt within the existing body of knowledge. The current research aims to explore the association between economic complexity, human capital, renewable energy generation, urbanization, economic growth, export quality, trade and ecological footprint for the top ten economic complex countries. This study applied panel data estimators, for instance, fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS), dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) and the system-GMM long-run estimators from 1980 to 2017. The long-run estimates reveal that economic complexity, economic growth, export quality, trade and urbanization increase ecological footprint. Human capital and renewable energy generation help to mitigate ecological footprint. We conclude that investment in more renewable energy generation and its consumption and efficient use of human capital will improve economic complexity, export quality, and environment in developed and developing countries.

Keywords: Economic complexity; Human capital; Export quality; Ecological footprint; Environmental sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C32 O33 Q53 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (17)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10668-021-01625-4

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