Digital financial inclusion, environmental degradation, and human capital nexus: evidence from South Asian countries
PDF (Angielski)

Słowa kluczowe

digital financial inclusion
greenhouse gas emissions
human capital
urbanization
panel ARDL

Jak cytować

Javeid, U., Majeed, M. T., Akhtar , M. ., & Sharif , F. . (2025). Digital financial inclusion, environmental degradation, and human capital nexus: evidence from South Asian countries. Czasopismo "Economics and Environment", 93(2), 1156. https://doi.org/10.34659/eis.2025.93.2.1156

Abstrakt

This study investigates the complex interrelations between Digital Financial Inclusion, Human Capital, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in South Asian countries from 2005 to 2023. We applied second-generation unit root analysis and panel co-integration test of Westerlund, designed especially for cross-sectional dependence and slope heterogeneity, by subjecting them to rigorous testing of these data irregularities. The Westerlund test results confirm significant long-term co-integration, but findings suggest a mixed character of stationarity. The empirical results indicate that a 1% incline in human capital leads to a 1.81% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast, a one-unit increase in digital financial inclusion is associated with a 0.33-unit increase in greenhouse gas emissions. This study addresses a neglected area of existing research through regional analysis and utilises approaches to handle cross-sectional dependence and slope heterogeneity. Policymakers are encouraged to integrate findings from this study into climate action strategies, emphasising the importance of promoting digital financial inclusion to support human capital development while addressing environmental impacts.

PDF (Angielski)

Bibliografia

Abid, L., Kacem, S., & Saadaoui, H. (2024). The impacts of economic growth, corruption, energy consumption and trade openness upon CO2 emissions: West African countries case. Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research, 42(3), 464–480. https://doi.org/10.1108/AGJSR-01-2023-0005

Ahmad, S., Khan, D., & Magda, R. (2022). Assessing the Influence of Financial Inclusion on Environmental Degradation in the ASEAN Region through the Panel PMG-ARDL Approach. Sustainability, 14(12), 7058. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127058

Anoruo, E., Nwala, K., & Afolabi, F. (2024). Asymmetric Impact of Real Effective Exchange Rate Shocks on Economic Growth in Africa: Evidence From Symmetric and Asymmetric Panel ARDL-PMG Model. Journal of Applied Business and Economics, 26(2). https://doi.org/10.33423/jabe.v26i2.7043

Balafoutis, A., Beck, B., Fountas, S., Vangeyte, J., Wal, T., Soto, I., Gómez-Barbero, M., Barnes, A., & Eory, V. (2017). Precision Agriculture Technologies Positively Contributing to GHG Emissions Mitigation, Farm Productivity and Economics. Sustainability, 9(8), 1339. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9081339

Banik, B., & Roy, C. K. (2023). Measuring fintech-driven financial inclusion for developing countries: Comprehensive Digital Financial Inclusion Index (CDFII). Economic Journal of Emerging Markets, 143–159. https://doi.org/10.20885/ejem.vol15.iss2.art3

Ding, R., Shi, F., & Hao, S. (2022). Digital Inclusive Finance, Environmental Regulation, and Regional Economic Growth: An Empirical Study Based on Spatial Spillover Effect and Panel Threshold Effect. Sustainability, 14(7), 4340. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14074340

Dumitrescu, E.-I., & Hurlin, C. (2012). Testing for Granger non-causality in heterogeneous panels. Economic Modelling, 29(4), 1450–1460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2012.02.014

Farooq, F., Sajid, M., Faheem, M., & Khan, K. H. (2024). Evaluating the influence of Green Growth, Foreign Direct Investment and Financial Development towards Sustainable Environment: Evidence by Green Finance Theory. Bulletin of Business and Economics, 13(2), 44–52. https://doi.org/10.61506/01.00297

Ganda, F. (2022). The nexus of financial development, natural resource rents, technological innovation, foreign direct investment, energy consumption, human capital, and trade on environmental degradation in the new BRICS economies. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29(49), 74442–74457. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-20976-7

Hao, S., Chen, Z., Wang, C.-C., & Hung, C.-Y. (2023). Impact of Digital Service Trade Barriers and Cross-Border Digital Service Inputs on Economic Growth. Sustainability, 15(19), 14547. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151914547

Hashem Pesaran, M., & Yamagata, T. (2008). Testing slope homogeneity in large panels. Journal of Econometrics, 142(1), 50–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeconom.2007.05.010

He, Y., Li, X., Huang, P., & Wang, J. (2022). Exploring the Road toward Environmental Sustainability: Natural Resources, Renewable Energy Consumption, Economic Growth, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Sustainability, 14(3), 1579. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031579

Hirth, L., & Steckel, J. C. (2016). The role of capital costs in decarbonizing the electricity sector. Environmental Research Letters, 11(11), 114010. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/11/11/114010

Hunjra, A. I., Tayachi, T., Chani, M. I., Verhoeven, P., & Mehmood, A. (2020). The Moderating Effect of Institutional Quality on the Financial Development and Environmental Quality Nexus. Sustainability, 12(9), 3805. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093805

Iqbal, M. A., Majeed, M. T., & Luni, T. (2021). Human capital, trade openness and CO₂ emissions: Evidence from heterogeneous income groups. Pakistan Journal of Commerce and Social Sciences (PJCSS), 15(3), 559-585. https://hdl.handle.net/10419/246072

Jiaduo, E., Kibria, M. G., Aspy, N. N., Ullah, E., & Hossain, M. E. (2023). The Impact of Agricultural Employment and Technological Innovation on the Environment: Evidence from BRICS Nations Considering a Novel Environmental Sustainability Indicator. Sustainability, 15(20), 15083. https://doi.org/10.3390/su152015083

Jóźwik, B., Doğan, M., & Gürsoy, S. (2023). The Impact of Renewable Energy Consumption on Environmental Quality in Central European Countries: The Mediating Role of Digitalization and Financial Development. Energies, 16(20), 7041. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16207041

Kaplan, M., Rahman, M. M. A., Khan, A.-I., & Vergil, H. (2024). The Triple Impact of Innovation, Financial Inclusion and Renewable Energy Consumption on Environmental Quality in Some Emerging Economies. International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 14(4), 140–149. https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.16008

Kass-Hanna, J., Lyons, A. C., & Liu, F. (2022). Building financial resilience through financial and digital literacy in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Emerging Markets Review, 51, 100846. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ememar.2021.100846

Kim, M., Zoo, H., Lee, H., & Kang, J. (2018). Mobile financial services, financial inclusion, and development: A systematic review of academic literature. The Electronic Journal Of Information Systems In Developing Countries, 84(5), e12044. https://doi.org/10.1002/isd2.12044

Kuziboev, B., Ibadullaev, E., Saidmamatov, O., Rajabov, A., Marty, P., Ruzmetov, S., & Sherov, A. (2023). The Role of Renewable Energy and Human Capital in Reducing Environmental Degradation in Europe and Central Asia: Panel Quantile Regression and GMM Approach. Energies, 16(22), 7627. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16227627

Kuzior, A., Vyshnevskyi, O., & Trushkina, N. (2022). Assessment of the Impact of Digitalization on Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the Example of EU Member States. Production Engineering Archives, 28(4), 407–419. https://doi.org/10.30657/pea.2022.28.50

Li, W., & Pang, W. (2023). The impact of digital inclusive finance on corporate ESG performance: based on the perspective of corporate green technology innovation. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30, 65314–65327. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-27057-3

Li, Y., Sun, G., Gao, Q., & Cheng, C. (2023). Digital Financial Inclusion, Financial Efficiency and Green Innovation. Sustainability, 15(3), 1879. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15031879

Lin, X., Zhao, Y., Ahmad, M., Ahmed, Z., Rjoub, H., & Adebayo, T. S. (2021). Linking Innovative Human Capital, Economic Growth, and CO2 Emissions: An Empirical Study Based on Chinese Provincial Panel Data. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(16), 8503. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168503

Majeed, A., Wang, J., Zhou, Y., & Muniba. (2024). The Symmetric Effect of Financial Development, Human Capital and Urbanization on Ecological Footprint: Insights from BRICST Economies. Sustainability, 16(12), 5051. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16125051

Majeed, M. T., Mazhar, M., & Hussain, Z. (2023). Environmental impact of digital financial inclusion and green growth: Insights from global panel data analysis. Pakistan Journal of Commerce and Social Sciences (PJCSS), 17(3), 558-587. https://doi.org/10.64534/Commer.2023.072

Mohamad Azmin, N. A., Abdul Manaf, S. M., & Abdul Ghani, R. (2023). Does financial efficiency modify CO2 emission? Using panel ARDL-PMG in the case of five selected ASEAN countries. BIO Web of Conferences, 73, 02001. https://doi.org/10.1051/bioconf/20237302001

Murshed, M., Ahmed, R., Kumpamool, C., Bassim, M., & Elheddad, M. (2021). The effects of regional trade integration and renewable energy transition on environmental quality: Evidence from South Asian neighbors. Business Strategy and the Environment, 30(8), 4154–4170. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2862

Odugbesan, J. A., Ike, G., Olowu, G., & Adeleye, B. N. (2022). Investigating the causality between financial inclusion, financial development and sustainable development in Sub‐Saharan Africa economies: The mediating role of foreign direct investment. Journal of Public Affairs, 22(3), e2569. https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2569

Ofosu-Mensah Ababio, J., Yiadom, E. B., Mawutor, J. K. M., Tuffour, J. K., & Attah‐Botchwey, E. (2024). Sustainable energy for all: the link between financial inclusion, renewable energy and environmental sustainability in developing economies. International Journal of Energy Sector Management, 18(5), 1088–1108. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJESM-07-2023-0012

Park, C.-Y., & Mercado, R. (2018). Financial inclusion, poverty, and income inequality. The Singapore Economic Review, 63(01), 185–206. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0217590818410059

Qamruzzaman, M., & Wei, J. (2019). Financial Innovation and Financial Inclusion Nexus in South Asian Countries: Evidence from Symmetric and Asymmetric Panel Investigation. International Journal of Financial Studies, 7(4), 61. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijfs7040061

Raphael, G. (2023). Causality between Financial Development and Foreign Direct Investment: Evidence from Tanzania. International Journal of Business, Law, and Education, 5(1), 158–176. https://doi.org/10.56442/ijble.v5i1.242

Rasheed, S., Adeneye, Y., & Farooq, R. (2024). Income inequality and carbon emissions in Asia: Does financial inclusion matter? Sustainable Development, 32(5), 5274–5293. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2974

Rehman, A., Radulescu, M., Ma, H., Dagar, V., Hussain, I., & Khan, M. (2021). The Impact of Globalization, Energy Use, and Trade on Ecological Footprint in Pakistan: Does Environmental Sustainability Exist? Energies, 14(17), 5234. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14175234

Salman, D., & Ismael, D. (2023). The effect of digital financial inclusion on the green economy: the case of Egypt. Journal of Economics and Development, 25(2), 120–133. https://doi.org/10.1108/JED-05-2022-0087

Shi, F., Ding, R., Li, H., & Hao, S. (2022). Environmental Regulation, Digital Financial Inclusion, and Environmental Pollution: An Empirical Study Based on the Spatial Spillover Effect and Panel Threshold Effect. Sustainability, 14(11), 6869. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116869

Song, J., Zhou, H., Gao, Y., & Guan, Y. (2022). Digital Inclusive Finance, Human Capital and Inclusive Green Development—Evidence from China. Sustainability, 14(16), 9922. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14169922

Thathsarani, U., Wei, J., & Samaraweera, G. (2021). Financial Inclusion’s Role in Economic Growth and Human Capital in South Asia: An Econometric Approach. Sustainability, 13(8), 4303. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084303

Udoh, B. E., Jack, A. E., Prince, A. I., Ekeowa, K.-I. L., Ndubuaku, V., & Samuel, U. E. (2021). Financial Deepening and Economic Growth in Nigeria: ARDL and NARDL Techniques. Universal Journal of Accounting and Finance, 9(4), 667–677. https://doi.org/10.13189/ujaf.2021.090413

Ullah, S., Ali, K., Shah, S. A., & Ehsan, M. (2022). Environmental concerns of financial inclusion and economic policy uncertainty in the era of globalization: evidence from low & high globalized OECD economies. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29, 36773–36787. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-18758-2

Westerlund, J. (2007). Testing for Error Correction in Panel Data*. Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, 69(6), 709–748. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0084.2007.00477.x

Yudaruddin, R., Hafsari, P., Suharsono, S., Budiman, P. W., Purnomo, A. H., Nugroho, B. A., & Adi, A. S. (2023). Impact of Financial Development on Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Indonesia: A Comprehensive Analysis (2000-2019). International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 13(6), 45–55. https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.14931

Zheng, F., Diao, R., & Che, H. (2024). Environmental Decentralization, Digital Financial Inclusion, and the Green Transformation of Industries in Resource-Based Cities in China. Sustainability, 16(17), 7564. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177564

Creative Commons License

Utwór dostępny jest na licencji Creative Commons Uznanie autorstwa – Na tych samych warunkach 4.0 Miedzynarodowe.

Prawa autorskie (c) 2025 Czasopismo "Economics and Environment"

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.