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The Dynamic Impact of Natural Resource Rents, Financial Development, and Technological Innovations on Environmental Quality: Empirical Evidence from BRI Economies

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  • Siming Zuo

    (School of Economics, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100029, China)

  • Mingxia Zhu

    (School of International Trade and Economics, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing 100029, China)

  • Zhexiao Xu

    (Graduate School, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing 100029, China)

  • Judit Oláh

    (Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
    Department of Public Management and Governance, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa)

  • Zoltan Lakner

    (Department of Food Economics, Faculty of Food Science, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Science (MATE), 2100 Godollo, Hungary)

Abstract

Until recently, many countries’ policies were motivated by economic growth; however, few strategies were developed to prevent environmental deterioration including reducing the ecological footprint. In this context, the purpose of this study was to analyze the role of natural resource rents, technological innovation, and financial development on the ecological footprint in 90 Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) economies. This research divided the BRI economies into high income, middle-income, and low-income levels to capture income differences. This research used the second-generation panel unit root, cointegration, and augmented mean group estimators to calculate the robust and reliable outcomes. Based on the annual data from 1991 to 2018, the findings show that natural resource rents drastically damage the quality of the environment, whereas technological innovations are helpful in reducing ecological footprint. Moreover, the outcome of the interaction term (natural resource rents and technological innovations) negatively impacts the ecological footprint. Interestingly, these findings were similar in the three income groups. In addition, financial development improved environmental quality in the middle-income BRI economies, but reduced it in high-income, low-income, and full sample countries. Furthermore, the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) concept has been validated across all BRI economies. Policymakers in BRI countries should move resources away from resource-rich sectors of industries/manufacturing sectors to enhance/promote economic growth and use these NRRs efficiently for a progressive, sustainable environment. Based on these findings, several efficient policy suggestions are proposed.

Suggested Citation

  • Siming Zuo & Mingxia Zhu & Zhexiao Xu & Judit Oláh & Zoltan Lakner, 2021. "The Dynamic Impact of Natural Resource Rents, Financial Development, and Technological Innovations on Environmental Quality: Empirical Evidence from BRI Economies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2021:i:1:p:130-:d:709527
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    3. Feihong Zheng & Yue Niu, 2023. "Environmental Decentralization, Resource Endowment and Urban Industrial Transformation and Upgrading: A Comparison of Resource-Based and Non-Resource-Based Cities in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-20, July.
    4. Yu, Donglei & Wenhui, Xiong & Anser, Muhammad Khalid & Nassani, Abdelmohsen A. & Imran, Muhammad & Zaman, Khalid & Haffar, Mohamed, 2023. "Navigating the global mineral market: A study of resource wealth and the energy transition," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
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    6. Luo, Shunjun & Mabrouk, Fatma, 2022. "Nexus between natural resources, globalization and ecological sustainability in resource-rich countries: Dynamic role of green technology and environmental regulation," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).

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