Do renewable energy policies promote economic growth? A nonparametric approach

Kahia, Montassar and kadria, Mohamed and Ben Aissa, Mohamed Safouane (2014): Do renewable energy policies promote economic growth? A nonparametric approach. Published in:

Abstract

This paper investigates the effects of renewable energy (RE) policies on economic growth in MENA countries. Using the propensity score matching methodology, our empirical analysis, conducted on a sample of 24 economies (17 RE and 7 non-RE countries) from 1980 to 2012, shows that the treatment effect of RE policies has a significant and positive impact on stimulating and promoting economic growth in MENA economies that have implemented these energy policies. RE policies alone, however, are not sufficient. This change requires the collective long-term commitment of all stakeholders, including governments, citizens, financiers, private companies and international agencies. This would help impede policy overlaps and incoherence as well as consequently improve the overall policy effectiveness.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Renewable energy policies; economic growth; treatment effect evaluation; propensity score matching; MENA countries.
• Subjects: O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O4 - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O4 - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity > O44 - Environment and Growth; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O4 - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity > O47 - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth ; Aggregate Productivity ; Cross-Country Output Convergence; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q2 - Renewable Resources and Conservation; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q4 - Energy

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