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The relationship between good governance and CO2 emissions in oil- and non-oil-producing countries: a dynamic panel study of sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

This study empirically examined the relationship between CO2 emissions and good governance in oil- and non-oil-producing countries in the SSA region. The findings from this paper revealed very interesting results proving that good governance has a negative relationship with CO2 emissions. Oil-producing countries have good governance system to help control and reduce CO2 emissions as compared to non-oil-producing countries. Particularly, in oil-producing countries, business regulatory environment, budget and fiscal management, as well as fiscal policy have a significant negative relationship with CO2 emissions. But there is rather a positive relationship between these indicators and CO2 emissions in non-oil-producing countries as they do not have the required structures and arrangements to control CO2 emissions. Also, in oil-producing countries, property rights and rules have positive relationship with CO2 emissions but in the case of non-oil-producing countries, there is a negative relationship, meaning that non-oil-producing countries have good legal system and rule-based governance structures that is capable of protecting property rights. There is positive relationship between quality of government administration and CO2 emissions in oil-producing countries but negative for non-oil-producing countries. Trade liberalization and economic growth have positive relationship with CO2 emissions in both categories. But urbanization has a negative relationship with CO2 emissions in non-oil-producing countries but positive for oil-producing. The findings point that effective and efficient institutions is a vital element for SSA countries to help combat the increased emissions of CO2 to engender growth.

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Correspondence to Steve Yaw Sarpong.

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Appendix

Appendix

Table 5 Definition of variables
Table 6 Descriptive statistics of variables. Aggregate SSA: oil- and non-oil-producing countries
Table 7 List of countries

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Sarpong, S.Y., Bein, M.A. The relationship between good governance and CO2 emissions in oil- and non-oil-producing countries: a dynamic panel study of sub-Saharan Africa. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 21986–22003 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08680-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08680-w

Keywords

  • CO2 emissions
  • Good governance
  • Environment
  • Oil producing
  • Non-oil producing