The challenges and opportunities of electricity generation on economic growth in South Africa: An ARDL approach

Hlongwane, Nyiko Worship and Daw, Olebogeng David (2021): The challenges and opportunities of electricity generation on economic growth in South Africa: An ARDL approach.

Abstract

This study examines the challenges and opportunities of electricity generation from coal on growth of South African economy. The study utilizes the available annual time series data collected from secondary sources (World Bank) spanning for the period from 1971 to 2015. The study employs the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model and an Error Correction Model (ECM) to analyse the challenges and opportunities of coal-fired electricity generation on growth South African economy. Statistical results from revealed a positive statistically insignificant short run and positive statistically significant long run relationship between electricity generated from coal and economic growth in South Africa. Renewable electricity generation also contribute positively to economic growth both in the short and long run period. The policy implication from this study is that the policy makers need to acknowledge the positive contribution of coal-fired electricity generation, revise policies on decommissioning of these powerplants, implement policies that encourage coal-fired electricity generation in a way that is environmentally friendly and increase investment in renewable electricity generation to boosts economic growth in South Africa.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Electricity generation, Economic growth, Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL)Model, Renewable electricity, South Africa
• Subjects: C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C1 - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General; C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C2 - Single Equation Models ; Single Variables > C29 - Other; P - Economic Systems > P1 - Capitalist Systems > P19 - Other; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q4 - Energy > Q43 - Energy and the Macroeconomy

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