IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/zbw/esprep/335106.html

Frontier Technology Adoption and Inclusive Green Growth in the EU: A Double-edged Sword?

Author

Listed:
  • Ofori, Isaac K.
  • Veling, Louise
  • Cullen, John

Abstract

As the EU Commission strategises towards a more technologically advanced region, a critical question arises: Does frontier technology adoption (FTR) truly foster inclusive green growth (IGG)? This study answers this question by empirically examining the impact of FTR on IGG, while accounting for the contingency role of electricity access. Applying pooled least squares, Driscoll-Kraay standard errors, and the dynamic generalised method of moments techniques, we uncover a paradox: while FTR accelerates economic growth and lowers greenhouse gas emissions, it exacerbates income inequality. The second lesson from this study is that although electricity access enhances the growth and environmental sustainability benefits of FTR, it only mitigates (but does not nullify) the downside of income inequality. These findings underscore the crucial need for the EU Commission to establish complementary and compensatory mechanisms to ensure that the EU’s technological leap delivers greener and more inclusive growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Ofori, Isaac K. & Veling, Louise & Cullen, John, 2026. "Frontier Technology Adoption and Inclusive Green Growth in the EU: A Double-edged Sword?," EconStor Preprints 335106, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:esprep:335106
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/335106/1/Ofori_Veling_Cullen_IGG_EU_2026.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ofori, Isaac K. & Gbolonyo, Emmanuel & Ojong, Nathanael, 2022. "Towards Inclusive Green Growth in Africa: Critical energy efficiency synergies and governance thresholds," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 365, pages 1-48.
    2. Daron Acemoglu, 2025. "The simple macroeconomics of AI," Economic Policy, CEPR, CESifo, Sciences Po;CES;MSH, vol. 40(121), pages 13-58.
    3. Hansen, Lars Peter, 1982. "Large Sample Properties of Generalized Method of Moments Estimators," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 50(4), pages 1029-1054, July.
    4. Faten Elina Kamaruddin & Nur Hanisah Mohamad Razali & Ahmad Fuzi Md Ajis & Nur Rifhan Ab Rahim & Siti Noorhaslina Abd Halim & Ainol Mardhiyah Rahmat, 2024. "Factors Influencing Data Partiality in Artificial Intelligence," Information Management and Business Review, AMH International, vol. 16(3), pages 1161-1169.
    5. 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.
    6. Daron Acemoglu & Claire Lelarge & Pascual Restrepo, 2020. "Competing with Robots: Firm-Level Evidence from France," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 110, pages 383-388, May.
    7. Daron Acemoglu & Pascual Restrepo, 2019. "Automation and New Tasks: How Technology Displaces and Reinstates Labor," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 33(2), pages 3-30, Spring.
    8. Juliane Begenau & Maryam Farboodi & Laura Veldkamp, 2018. "Big Data in Finance and the Growth of Large Firms," Working Papers 18-08, New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, Department of Economics.
    9. Juliane Begenau & Maryam Farboodi & Laura Veldkamp, 2018. "Big Data in Finance and the Growth of Large Firms," NBER Working Papers 24550, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    10. Knut Blind & Florian Ramel & Charlotte Rochell, 2022. "The influence of standards and patents on long-term economic growth," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(4), pages 979-999, August.
    11. Isaac K. Ofori & Francesco Figari, 2023. "Economic globalisation and inclusive green growth in Africa: Contingencies and policy‐relevant thresholds of governance," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(1), pages 452-482, February.
    12. Philippe Aghion & Ufuk Akcigit & Antonin Bergeaud & Richard Blundell & David Hemous, 2019. "Innovation and Top Income Inequality," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 86(1), pages 1-45.
    13. Nathan D. DeLay & Nathanael M. Thompson & James R. Mintert, 2022. "Precision agriculture technology adoption and technical efficiency," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 73(1), pages 195-219, February.
    14. Law, Siong Hook & Naseem, N.A.M. & Lau, Wei Theng & Trinugroho, Irwan, 2020. "Can innovation improve income inequality? Evidence from panel data," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 44(4).
    15. Oecd, 2024. "Governing with Artificial Intelligence: Are governments ready?," OECD Artificial Intelligence Papers 20, OECD Publishing.
    16. Lu, Chia-Hui, 2021. "The impact of artificial intelligence on economic growth and welfare," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    17. William Brock & M. Taylor, 2010. "The Green Solow model," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 127-153, June.
    18. John C. Driscoll & Aart C. Kraay, 1998. "Consistent Covariance Matrix Estimation With Spatially Dependent Panel Data," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 80(4), pages 549-560, November.
    19. Asuna Gilfoyle, 2023. "The Impact of Automation on Income Inequality: A Cross-Country Analysis," Papers 2304.07835, arXiv.org.
    20. Oecd, 2024. "Artificial intelligence, data and competition," OECD Artificial Intelligence Papers 18, OECD Publishing.
    21. Fu, Xiaolan & Pietrobelli, Carlo & Soete, Luc, 2011. "The Role of Foreign Technology and Indigenous Innovation in the Emerging Economies: Technological Change and Catching-up," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 39(7), pages 1204-1212, July.
    22. Juliane Begenau & Laura Veldkamp & Maryam Farboodi, 2018. "Big Data in Finance and the Growth of Large Firms," 2018 Meeting Papers 155, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    23. Frey, Carl Benedikt & Osborne, Michael A., 2017. "The future of employment: How susceptible are jobs to computerisation?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 254-280.
    24. Li, Jiaman & Dong, Kangyin & Dong, Xiucheng, 2022. "Green energy as a new determinant of green growth in China: The role of green technological innovation," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    25. Rana P. Maradana & Rudra P. Pradhan & Saurav Dash & Kunal Gaurav & Manju Jayakumar & Debaleena Chatterjee, 2017. "Does innovation promote economic growth? Evidence from European countries," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 6(1), pages 1-23, December.
    26. Babina, Tania & Fedyk, Anastassia & He, Alex & Hodson, James, 2024. "Artificial intelligence, firm growth, and product innovation," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    27. Fei, Li & Dong, Suocheng & Xue, Li & Liang, Quanxi & Yang, Wangzhou, 2011. "Energy consumption-economic growth relationship and carbon dioxide emissions in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(2), pages 568-574, February.
    28. Chu, Zhaopeng & Chen, Xin & Yang, Jun, 2025. "Impact of data factor and data integration on economic development: Empirical insights from China," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(8).
    29. Maarten Goos & Alan Manning & Anna Salomons, 2014. "Explaining Job Polarization: Routine-Biased Technological Change and Offshoring," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 104(8), pages 2509-2526, August.
    30. Jung In Park, 2024. "Harnessing Artificial Intelligence to Promote Health Equity," Clinical Nursing Research, , vol. 33(7), pages 507-508, September.
    31. Ofori, Isaac K. & Freytag, Andreas & Asongu, Simplice A., 2024. "Economic globalisation and Africa's quest for greener and more inclusive growth: The missing link," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    32. Oecd, 2024. "Artificial Intelligence and tourism: G7/OECD policy paper," OECD Tourism Papers 2024/02, OECD Publishing.
    33. Rybin A. I. (Рыбин, А. И.) & Chashhukhin E. O. (Чащухин, Е. О.), 2024. "Artificial Intelligence and Inequality: A Legal Aspect [Искусственный Интеллект И Социальное Неравенство: Философско-Правовой Аспект]," Theoretical and applied law, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, issue 4, pages 56-67.
    34. Begenau, Juliane & Farboodi, Maryam & Veldkamp, Laura, 2018. "Big data in finance and the growth of large firms," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 71-87.
    35. Acemoglu, Daron & Autor, David, 2011. "Skills, Tasks and Technologies: Implications for Employment and Earnings," Handbook of Labor Economics, in: O. Ashenfelter & D. Card (ed.), Handbook of Labor Economics, edition 1, volume 4, chapter 12, pages 1043-1171, Elsevier.
    36. Aghion, Philippe & Antonin, Céline & Bunel, Simon & Jaravel, Xavier, 2022. "The Effects of Automation on Labor Demand: A Survey of the Recent Literature," CEPR Discussion Papers 16868, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    37. Julius Tan Gonzales, 2023. "Implications of AI innovation on economic growth: a panel data study," Journal of Economic Structures, Springer;Pan-Pacific Association of Input-Output Studies (PAPAIOS), vol. 12(1), pages 1-37, December.
    38. Ofori, Isaac K. & Gbolonyo, Emmanuel Y. & Vezzulli, Andrea, 2025. "Heterogeneous effects of frontier technology adoption on economic growth in Africa," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 526-540.
    39. Daniel Broby, 2021. "Financial technology and the future of banking," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 7(1), pages 1-19, December.
    40. Valeria Cirillo & Matteo Sostero & Federico Tamagni, 2017. "Innovation and within-firm wage inequalities: empirical evidence from major European countries," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(5), pages 468-491, July.
    41. 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.
    42. Dominique Guellec, 2020. "Digital Innovation and the Distribution of Income," NBER Chapters, in: Measuring and Accounting for Innovation in the Twenty-First Century, pages 323-370, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    43. Antonelli, Cristiano & Tubiana, Matteo, 2023. "The rate and direction of technological change and wealth and income inequalities in advanced countries," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    44. Ofori, Isaac K. & Gbolonyo, Emmanuel Y. & Ojong, Nathanael, 2023. "Foreign direct investment and inclusive green growth in Africa: Energy efficiency contingencies and thresholds," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    45. Gbolonyo, Emmanuel Y. & Ofori, Isaac K. & Ojong, Nathanael, 2024. "Does Economic Complexity Promote Inclusive Green Growth," EconStor Preprints 298785, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    46. Kerstin Hotte & Melline Somers & Angelos Theodorakopoulos, 2022. "Technology and jobs: A systematic literature review," Papers 2204.01296, arXiv.org.
    47. Hasan, Iftekhar & Tucci, Christopher L., 2010. "The innovation-economic growth nexus: Global evidence," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(10), pages 1264-1276, December.
    48. Nguyen, Canh Phuc & Doytch, Nadia, 2022. "The impact of ICT patents on economic growth: An international evidence," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(5).
    49. Domini, Giacomo & Grazzi, Marco & Moschella, Daniele & Treibich, Tania, 2022. "For whom the bell tolls: The firm-level effects of automation on wage and gender inequality," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(7).
    50. 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.
    51. Jonas Hjort & Jonas Poulsen, 2019. "The Arrival of Fast Internet and Employment in Africa," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 109(3), pages 1032-1079, March.
    52. Ragimova & Abdullayev & Mirzoyeva & Mirzoyeva, 2024. "Application of Artificial Intelligence in Dentistry," Health Leadership and Quality of Life, AG Editor, vol. 3, pages 1-.454.
    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. Ofori, Isaac K. & Veling, Louise & Cullen, John, 2026. "Frontier Technology Adoption and Inclusive Green Growth in the EU: A Double-edged Sword?," MPRA Paper 127772, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Radeef Chundakkadan & Subash Sasidharan & Kausik Chaudhuri, 2025. "Automation, firm performance, and employment: Evidence from developing countries," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 35(5), pages 873-900, November.
    3. Yang ZHANG & Ziang QIU Ziang & Donghyun PARK & Shu TIAN, 2026. "Role of Artificial Intelligence in Finance: Selective Literature Review and Implications for Asia's Financial Stability," Working Papers wp61, South East Asian Central Banks (SEACEN) Research and Training Centre, revised Feb 2026.
    4. Ahmed Chafai & Rym Oueslati & Hatem Salah, 2025. "Innovation Activities and Sustainable Firm Growth in Arab Countries: The Role of Bank Funding, Institutional Quality and Bank Competition," Working Papers 1819, Economic Research Forum, revised 20 Dec 2025.
    5. Junhui Jeff Cai & Xian Gu & Liugang Sheng & Mengjia Xia & Linda Zhao & Wu Zhu, 2025. "AI as "Co-founder": GenAI for Entrepreneurship," Papers 2512.06506, arXiv.org.
    6. Yali Li & Gaobin Du & Yilun Lu, 2025. "Management incentives, governance, and digital transformation: effects on financial disclosure integrity," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 49(4), pages 1115-1145, December.
    7. gert Bijnens & Joep Konings & Aaron Putseys, 2025. "Unveiling the J-curve: How Intangibles Drive Productivity Mismeasurement," Working Papers of VIVES - Research Centre for Regional Economics 779815, KU Leuven, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), VIVES - Research Centre for Regional Economics.
    8. Zhou, Yuwen & Shi, Xin, 2025. "How does digital technology adoption affect corporate employment? Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    9. Brodzicki, Tomasz, 2024. "Heterogeneous Firms and AI Adoption. Dynamic Insights into Market Structure and Global Trade," MPRA Paper 127767, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 01 Apr 2025.
    10. Chun, Hyunbae & Shin, Donghan, 2025. "Beyond automation: The multifaceted impact of advanced digital technologies on employment dynamics," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(10).
    11. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Tang, Manting & Lee, Chi-Chuan, 2023. "Reaping digital dividends: Digital inclusive finance and high-quality development of enterprises in China," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(2).
    12. Julius Tan Gonzales, 2023. "Implications of AI innovation on economic growth: a panel data study," Journal of Economic Structures, Springer;Pan-Pacific Association of Input-Output Studies (PAPAIOS), vol. 12(1), pages 1-37, December.
    13. Domini, Giacomo & Grazzi, Marco & Moschella, Daniele & Treibich, Tania, 2022. "For whom the bell tolls: The firm-level effects of automation on wage and gender inequality," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(7).
    14. Ofori, Isaac K., 2024. "Frontier Technology Readiness, Democracy, and Income Inequality in Africa," EconStor Preprints 298788, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    15. Kamguia, Brice & Tadadjeu, Sosson & Ndoya, Hermann & Djeunankan, Ronald, 2025. "Assessing the nexus between industrialization and inclusive green growth in Africa. The critical role of energy efficiency," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    16. Ugur, Mehmet, 2024. "Effects of innovation and markups on employment and labour share in OECD industries," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 221-234.
    17. Ofori, Isaac K., 2024. "Frontier Technology Readiness, Democracy, and Income Inequality in Africa," MPRA Paper 121243, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    18. Grenz, Sabrina & Gregory, Terry & Lehmer, Florian, 2026. "AI-Powered Skill Classification: Mapping Technology Intensity in the German Labor Market," IZA Discussion Papers 18415, IZA Network @ LISER.
    19. Cheng, Maoyong & Qu, Yang, 2020. "Does bank FinTech reduce credit risk? Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    20. T. Gries & R. Grundmann & I. Palnau & M. Redlin, 2017. "Innovations, growth and participation in advanced economies - a review of major concepts and findings," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 14(2), pages 293-351, April.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • O52 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Europe
    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development
    • Q43 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Energy and the Macroeconomy

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    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:zbw:esprep:335106. 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: ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/zbwkide.html .

    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.