IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/sustdv/v34y2026is2p1155-1169.html

Social Inequality, ICT Development, and Renewable Energy Investment: Implications for Ecological Sustainability in Central Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Yixin He
  • Daniel Jones

Abstract

This paper investigates how income inequality (II) and information and communication technology (ICT) development shape renewable energy investment (REI) and environmental sustainability in the Central African Community (CAC) between 2005 and 2021. Using advanced panel econometric methods, including Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR), Augmented Mean Group (AMG), and Common Correlated Effects Mean Group (CCEMG), the study reveals complex and heterogeneous dynamics. Results show that high II often undermines the effectiveness of REIs, although targeted interventions in more unequal regions sometimes enhance their impact. ICT development consistently strengthens investment efficiency and contributes positively to environmental sustainability by improving resource management and reducing ecological pressures. While renewable energy projects deliver long‐term environmental benefits, their early stages can raise ecological footprints due to implementation inefficiencies. These findings underscore the need for integrated policy approaches that simultaneously reduce socioeconomic disparities, expand ICT infrastructure, and ensure the sustainable design of renewable energy projects. By linking inequality, digitalization, and clean energy transitions, this study provides actionable insights for advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 7 and SDG 13) in Central Africa and other regions facing similar developmental constraints.

Suggested Citation

  • Yixin He & Daniel Jones, 2026. "Social Inequality, ICT Development, and Renewable Energy Investment: Implications for Ecological Sustainability in Central Africa," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(S2), pages 1155-1169, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:34:y:2026:i:s2:p:1155-1169
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.70389
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.70389
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/sd.70389?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hongwen Jia & Shugang Fan & Miao Xia, 2023. "The Impact of Renewable Energy Consumption on Economic Growth: Evidence from Countries along the Belt and Road," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-11, May.
    2. Maklewa Agoundedemba & Chang Ki Kim & Hyun-Goo Kim, 2023. "Energy Status in Africa: Challenges, Progress and Sustainable Pathways," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-20, November.
    3. Joakim Westerlund, 2007. "Testing for Error Correction in Panel Data," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 69(6), pages 709-748, December.
    4. 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.
    5. Abbasi, Kashif Raza & Shahbaz, Muhammad & Zhang, Jinjun & Irfan, Muhammad & Alvarado, Rafael, 2022. "Analyze the environmental sustainability factors of China: The role of fossil fuel energy and renewable energy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 390-402.
    6. Pata, Ugur Korkut & Aydin, Mucahit & Haouas, Ilham, 2021. "Are natural resources abundance and human development a solution for environmental pressure? Evidence from top ten countries with the largest ecological footprint," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    7. M. Hashem Pesaran, 2006. "Estimation and Inference in Large Heterogeneous Panels with a Multifactor Error Structure," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 74(4), pages 967-1012, July.
    8. Hashem Pesaran, M. & Yamagata, Takashi, 2008. "Testing slope homogeneity in large panels," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 142(1), pages 50-93, January.
    9. Ortt, J. Roland & Kamp, Linda M., 2022. "A technological innovation system framework to formulate niche introduction strategies for companies prior to large-scale diffusion," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    10. 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.
    11. Amal Dabbous, 2018. "The Impact of Information and Communication Technology and Financial Development on Energy Consumption: A Dynamic Heterogeneous Panel Analysis for MENA Countries," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 8(4), pages 70-76.
    12. Frederick Solt, 2016. "The Standardized World Income Inequality Database," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 97(5), pages 1267-1281, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Aloysius Mom Njong & Rosy Pascale Meyet Tchouapi & Vera Fuen Kum, 2026. "Economic complexity and ecological footprint: a convergence club analysis constructed on a global sample of countries," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 6(1), pages 1-33, January.
    2. Li, Xuelin & Yang, Lin, 2023. "Natural resources, remittances and carbon emissions: A Dutch Disease perspective with remittances for South Asia," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).
    3. Fang, Shuya & Fang, Wei, 2023. "How fiscal decentralization and trade diversification influence sustainable development: Moderating role of resources dependency," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    4. Muhammad Sadiq & Syed Tauseef Hassan & Irfan Khan & Mohammad Mafizur Rahman, 2024. "Policy uncertainty, renewable energy, corruption and CO2 emissions nexus in BRICS-1 countries: a panel CS-ARDL approach," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(8), pages 21595-21621, August.
    5. Quynh Chau Pham Holland & Benjamin Liu & Eduardo Roca, 2019. "International funding cost and heterogeneous mortgage interest-rate pass-through: a bank-level analysis," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 57(4), pages 1255-1289, October.
    6. Zheng, Chengting & Wu, Shufang & Teng, Yin-Pei & Wu, Shuzhao & Wang, Zhe, 2023. "Natural resources, tourism resources and economic growth: A new direction to natural resources perspective and investment," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PB).
    7. Zhao, Wen-Xuan & Samour, Ahmed & Yi, Kefu & Al-Faryan, Mamdouh Abdulaziz Saleh, 2023. "Do technological innovation, natural resources and stock market development promote environmental sustainability? Novel evidence based on the load capacity factor," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    8. Yuan, Shengjun & Musibau, Hammed Oluwaseyi & Genç, Sema Yılmaz & Shaheen, Riffat & Ameen, Anam & Tan, Zhixiong, 2021. "Digitalization of economy is the key factor behind fourth industrial revolution: How G7 countries are overcoming with the financing issues?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    9. Huang, Lingyun & Zou, Yanjun, 2020. "How to promote energy transition in China: From the perspectives of interregional relocation and environmental regulation," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    10. Saboori, Behnaz & Gholipour, Hassan F. & Rasoulinezhad, Ehsan & Ranjbar, Omid, 2022. "Renewable energy sources and unemployment rate: Evidence from the US states," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    11. Ourania Dimitraki & Kyriakos Emmanouilidis & Alban Asllani, 2025. "Reassessing the military spending–economic growth nexus in the ‘shadows’: selected Balkan countries, 1990–2022," Defence and Peace Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(8), pages 1172-1196, November.
    12. Ma, Qiang & Mentel, Grzegorz & Zhao, Xin & Salahodjaev, Raufhon & Kuldasheva, Zebo, 2022. "Natural resources tax volatility and economic performance: Evaluating the role of digital economy," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    13. Dai, Siwei & Su, Mengying & Liu, Yandong & Xu, Zhaoyi, 2023. "Digital economy, resource richness, external conflicts, and ecological footprint: Evidence from emerging countries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).
    14. Mounir Dahmani & Mohamed Mabrouki & Adel Ben Youssef, 2022. "The Information and Communication Technologies-Economic Growth Nexus in Tunisia - A Cross-Section Dynamic Panel Approach," Montenegrin Journal of Economics, Economic Laboratory for Transition Research (ELIT), vol. 18(2), pages 161-174.
    15. Jadhav Chakradhar & Alok Aditya, 2026. "Growth under uncertainty-heterogeneous impacts of economic policy shocks: evidence from a panel quantile regression," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 1-29, June.
    16. Ahmad, Mahmood & Dai, Jiapeng & Mehmood, Usman & Abou Houran, Mohamad, 2023. "Renewable energy transition, resource richness, economic growth, and environmental quality: Assessing the role of financial globalization," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    17. Alexandra Horobet & Magdalena Radulescu & Taoufik Bouraoui & Irina Mnohoghitnei & Daniel Balsalobre-Lorente & Lucian Belascu, 2025. "Financial development and environmental degradation: insights from European countries," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(32), pages 4679-4694, July.
    18. Zhou, Rong & Su, Kaihua & Zheng, Li, 2022. "Natural resources led growth and the role of financial development: Evidence from Next-11 economies," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    19. Yang, Bin & Wu, Qiong & Sharif, Arshian & Uddin, Gazi Salah, 2023. "Non-linear impact of natural resources, green financing, and energy transition on sustainable environment: A way out for common prosperity in NORDIC countries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    20. Barkat, Karim & Sbia, Raschid & Maouchi, Youcef, 2019. "Empirical evidence on the long and short run determinants of health expenditure in the Arab world," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 78-87.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:wly:sustdv:v:34:y:2026:i:s2:p:1155-1169. 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: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-1719 .

    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.