IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i2p1521-d1034102.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Environmental Sustainability and Foreign Direct Investment in East Africa: Institutional and Policy Benefits for Environmental Sustainability

Author

Listed:
  • Hou Renyong

    (School of Management, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China)

  • Aman Ali Sedik

    (School of Management, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China)

Abstract

Persistent drought is not a unique phenomenon in East African countries, different research findings cite different reasons for it, but the environmental problem is currently a major concern worldwide and in East African country (EAC) the problem is not an exception to this phenomenon; policymakers and researchers are interested in knowing the cause in order to mitigate environmental degradation and support policies and institutions for environmental sustainability. Therefore, this study examines the environmental sustainability laws and institutions in 18 EAC to determine the relationship between foreign direct investment and environmental quality. Using the generalized method of moments for analysis, the results show, among other things, that foreign direct investment, when associated with environmental sustainability policies and institutions, improves environmental quality in the long run while degrading it in the short run. Long- and short-run environmental improvements in EAC are also enabled by domestic investment, environmental sustainability institutions, and policies. The study, therefore, concludes that environmental sustainability institutions and policies are critical in EAC because they improve environmental quality and interact with foreign direct investment in the long run. Therefore, the study recommends that policymakers and other stakeholders in EAC take action to improve environmental quality and sustainable economies.

Suggested Citation

  • Hou Renyong & Aman Ali Sedik, 2023. "Environmental Sustainability and Foreign Direct Investment in East Africa: Institutional and Policy Benefits for Environmental Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-22, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:2:p:1521-:d:1034102
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/2/1521/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/2/1521/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hansen, Lars Peter, 1982. "Large Sample Properties of Generalized Method of Moments Estimators," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 50(4), pages 1029-1054, July.
    2. Daniel C. Esty & Andre Dua, 1997. "Sustaining the Asia Pacific Miracle: Environmental Protection and Economic Integration," Peterson Institute Press: All Books, Peterson Institute for International Economics, number 37, October.
    3. Papke, Leslie E. & Wooldridge, Jeffrey M., 2005. "A computational trick for delta-method standard errors," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 86(3), pages 413-417, March.
    4. Pedroni, Peter, 2004. "Panel Cointegration: Asymptotic And Finite Sample Properties Of Pooled Time Series Tests With An Application To The Ppp Hypothesis," Econometric Theory, Cambridge University Press, vol. 20(3), pages 597-625, June.
    5. Hafiz Syed Mohsin Abbas & Xiaodong Xu & Chunxia Sun & Atta Ullah & Ghulam Nabi & Samreen Gillani & Muhammad Ahsan Ali Raza, 2021. "Sustainable Use of Energy Resources, Regulatory Quality, and Foreign Direct Investment in Controlling GHGs Emissions among Selected Asian Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-18, January.
    6. Chi-Hui Wang & Prasad Padmanabhan & Chia-Hsing Huang, 2021. "The Impact of Renewable Energy, Urbanization, and Environmental Sustainability Ratings on the Environmental Kuznets Curve and the Pollution Haven Hypothesis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-22, December.
    7. Daniel Sakyi & Richmond Commodore & Eric Evans Osei Opoku, 2015. "Foreign Direct Investment, Trade Openness and Economic Growth in Ghana: An Empirical Investigation," Journal of African Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(1-2), pages 1-15, January.
    8. Kao, Chihwa, 1999. "Spurious regression and residual-based tests for cointegration in panel data," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 90(1), pages 1-44, May.
    9. Im, Kyung So & Pesaran, M. Hashem & Shin, Yongcheol, 2003. "Testing for unit roots in heterogeneous panels," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 115(1), pages 53-74, July.
    10. Yanqing Jiang, 2015. "Foreign Direct Investment, Pollution, and the Environmental Quality: A Model with Empirical Evidence From the Chinese Regions," The International Trade Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(3), pages 212-227, August.
    11. Maddala, G S & Wu, Shaowen, 1999. "A Comparative Study of Unit Root Tests with Panel Data and a New Simple Test," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 61(0), pages 631-652, Special I.
    12. Barry P. Bosworth & Susan M. Collins, 1999. "Capital Flows to Developing Economies: Implications for Saving and Investment," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 30(1), pages 143-180.
    13. Pesaran, M. Hashem & Vanessa Smith, L. & Yamagata, Takashi, 2013. "Panel unit root tests in the presence of a multifactor error structure," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 175(2), pages 94-115.
    14. Shahbaz, Muhammad & Nasreen, Samia & Abbas, Faisal & Anis, Omri, 2015. "Does foreign direct investment impede environmental quality in high-, middle-, and low-income countries?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 275-287.
    15. Ojewumi, Sunday Johnson & Akinlo, Anthony Enisan, 2017. "Foreign Direct Investment, Economic Growth and Environmental Quality in SubSaharan Africa: A Dynamic Model Analysis," African Journal of Economic Review, African Journal of Economic Review, vol. 5(1), January.
    16. M. Hashem Pesaran, 2007. "A simple panel unit root test in the presence of cross-section dependence," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 22(2), pages 265-312.
    17. Asongu, Simplice A & Odhiambo, Nicholas M, 2020. "Trade and FDI Thresholds of CO2 emissions for a Green Economy in Sub-Saharan Africa," Working Papers 26732, University of South Africa, Department of Economics.
    18. Arellano, Manuel & Bover, Olympia, 1995. "Another look at the instrumental variable estimation of error-components models," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 68(1), pages 29-51, July.
    19. Paula Bustos, 2011. "Trade Liberalization, Exports, and Technology Upgrading: Evidence on the Impact of MERCOSUR on Argentinian Firms," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 101(1), pages 304-340, February.
    20. Danish, & Baloch, Muhammad Awais & Wang, Bo, 2019. "Analyzing the role of governance in CO2 emissions mitigation: The BRICS experience," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 119-125.
    21. Blundell, Richard & Bond, Stephen, 1998. "Initial conditions and moment restrictions in dynamic panel data models," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 87(1), pages 115-143, August.
    22. Thi Thuy Hang Le & Van Chien Nguyen & Thi Hang Nga Phan, 2022. "Foreign Direct Investment, Environmental Pollution and Economic Growth—An Insight from Non-Linear ARDL Co-Integration Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-14, July.
    23. Eskeland, Gunnar S. & Harrison, Ann E., 2003. "Moving to greener pastures? Multinationals and the pollution haven hypothesis," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(1), pages 1-23, February.
    24. Shahbaz, Muhammad & Balsalobre-Lorente, Daniel & Sinha, Avik, 2019. "Foreign Direct Investment–CO2 Emissions Nexus in Middle East and North African countries: Importance of Biomass Energy Consumption," MPRA Paper 91729, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 19 Jan 2019.
    25. Najabat Ali & Khamphe Phoungthong & Kuaanan Techato & Waheed Ali & Shah Abbas & Joshuva Arockia Dhanraj & Anwar Khan, 2022. "FDI, Green Innovation and Environmental Quality Nexus: New Insights from BRICS Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-17, February.
    26. Abdouli, Mohamed & Hammami, Sami, 2017. "Investigating the causality links between environmental quality, foreign direct investment and economic growth in MENA countries," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(2), pages 264-278.
    27. Brambor, Thomas & Clark, William Roberts & Golder, Matt, 2006. "Understanding Interaction Models: Improving Empirical Analyses," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 14(1), pages 63-82, January.
    28. Fortune Ganda, 2021. "The influence of growth determinants on environmental quality in Sub-Saharan Africa states," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(5), pages 7117-7139, May.
    29. Reinhart, Carmen, 1999. "Capital flows to developing economies: Implications for saving, investment, and growth (a comment)," MPRA Paper 13204, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    30. Lee, Jung Wan, 2013. "The contribution of foreign direct investment to clean energy use, carbon emissions and economic growth," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 483-489.
    31. Toto Gunarto, 2020. "Effect of Economic Growth and Foreign Direct Investment on Carbon emission in the Asian States," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 10(5), pages 563-569.
    32. Kivyiro, Pendo & Arminen, Heli, 2014. "Carbon dioxide emissions, energy consumption, economic growth, and foreign direct investment: Causality analysis for Sub-Saharan Africa," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 595-606.
    33. G. S. Maddala & Shaowen Wu, 1999. "A Comparative Study of Unit Root Tests with Panel Data and a New Simple Test," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 61(S1), pages 631-652, November.
    34. Nicholas Stern, 2008. "The Economics of Climate Change," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 98(2), pages 1-37, May.
    35. Manuel Arellano & Stephen Bond, 1991. "Some Tests of Specification for Panel Data: Monte Carlo Evidence and an Application to Employment Equations," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 58(2), pages 277-297.
    36. Chao-Qun Ma & Jiang-Long Liu & Yi-Shuai Ren & Yong Jiang, 2019. "The Impact of Economic Growth, FDI and Energy Intensity on China’s Manufacturing Industry’s CO 2 Emissions: An Empirical Study Based on the Fixed-Effect Panel Quantile Regression Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-16, December.
    37. Seker, Fahri & Ertugrul, Hasan Murat & Cetin, Murat, 2015. "The impact of foreign direct investment on environmental quality: A bounds testing and causality analysis for Turkey," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 347-356.
    38. Pao, Hsiao-Tien & Tsai, Chung-Ming, 2011. "Multivariate Granger causality between CO2 emissions, energy consumption, FDI (foreign direct investment) and GDP (gross domestic product): Evidence from a panel of BRIC (Brazil, Russian Federation, I," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 685-693.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Lihui Li & Huimin Wang, 2023. "Influence of Green Investment on China’s Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-19, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sung, Bongsuk & Song, Woo-Yong & Park, Sang-Do, 2018. "How foreign direct investment affects CO2 emission levels in the Chinese manufacturing industry: Evidence from panel data," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 320-331.
    2. Qamruzzaman, Md & Jianguo, Wei, 2020. "The asymmetric relationship between financial development, trade openness, foreign capital flows, and renewable energy consumption: Fresh evidence from panel NARDL investigation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 827-842.
    3. Shahbaz, Muhammad & Nasreen, Samia & Abbas, Faisal & Anis, Omri, 2015. "Does foreign direct investment impede environmental quality in high-, middle-, and low-income countries?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 275-287.
    4. Peñasco, Cristina & del Río, Pablo & Romero-Jordán, Desiderio, 2017. "Gas and electricity demand in Spanish manufacturing industries: An analysis using homogeneous and heterogeneous estimators," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 45-60.
    5. Dehghan Shabani, Zahra & Shahnazi, Rouhollah, 2019. "Energy consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, information and communications technology, and gross domestic product in Iranian economic sectors: A panel causality analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 1064-1078.
    6. Chen, Ping-Yu & Chen, Sheng-Tung & Hsu, Chia-Sheng & Chen, Chi-Chung, 2016. "Modeling the global relationships among economic growth, energy consumption and CO2 emissions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 420-431.
    7. Gharehgozli, Orkideh, 2021. "An empirical comparison between a regression framework and the Synthetic Control Method," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 70-81.
    8. Wenjing Zhang & Hengzhou Xu, 2017. "Exploring the causal relationship between carbon emissions and land urbanization quality in China using a panel data analysis," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1445-1462, August.
    9. Gong, Zhonghang & Wu, Yuqin & Tawiah, Vincent & Abdulrasheed, Zakari, 2023. "The environmental footprint of international business in Africa; The role of natural resources," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    10. Eberhardt, Markus & Teal, Francis, 2008. "Modeling technology and technological change in manufacturing: how do countries differ?," MPRA Paper 10690, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Tarik Dogru & Umit Bulut & Ercan Sirakaya-Turk, 2021. "Modeling tourism demand: Theoretical and empirical considerations for future research," Tourism Economics, , vol. 27(4), pages 874-889, June.
    12. Qamruzzaman, Md, 2022. "Nexus between renewable energy, foreign direct investment, and agro-productivity: The mediating role of carbon emission," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 526-540.
    13. Paramati, Sudharshan Reddy & Mo, Di & Gupta, Rakesh, 2017. "The effects of stock market growth and renewable energy use on CO2 emissions: Evidence from G20 countries," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 360-371.
    14. Jaunky, Vishal Chandr, 2011. "The CO2 emissions-income nexus: Evidence from rich countries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 1228-1240, March.
    15. Maria Elena Bontempi & Roberto Golinelli, 2012. "The effect of neglecting the slope parameters’ heterogeneity on dynamic models of corporate capital structure," Quantitative Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(11), pages 1733-1751, November.
    16. Ronald MacDonald & Flávio Vieira, "undated". "A panel data investigation of real exchange rate misalignment and growth," Working Papers 2010_13, Business School - Economics, University of Glasgow.
    17. Wilman-Santiago Ochoa-Moreno & Byron Alejandro Quito & Carlos Andrés Moreno-Hurtado, 2021. "Foreign Direct Investment and Environmental Quality: Revisiting the EKC in Latin American Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-18, November.
    18. Yongfu Huang, 2011. "Private investment and financial development in a globalized world," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 41(1), pages 43-56, August.
    19. T. Gries & M. Redlin, 2020. "Trade and economic development: global causality and development- and openness-related heterogeneity," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 923-944, October.
    20. Herzer, Dierk, 2013. "Cross-Country Heterogeneity and the Trade-Income Relationship," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 194-211.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:2:p:1521-:d:1034102. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.