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In its business-as-usual scenario, the 1972 Club-of-Rome report—The Limits to Growth—describes the collapse of the world economy around the year 2030, either because of the scarcity of natural resources or because of pollution. Mainstream economists, the high priests of secular societies, condemned it fiercely. Their gospel of perpetual economic growth, during which technological progress would solve all problems, promises a bright future for all mankind. On the other hand, engineers, natural scientists, and mathematicians realized that the breakdown scenario is due to the inclusion of the First and the Second Law of Thermodynamics in the Club-of-Rome's world model. According to these laws, nothing happens in the world without energy conversion and entropy production. In 1865, Rudolph Clausius, the discoverer of entropy, published the laws as the constitution of the universe. Entropy is the physical measure of disorder. Without a proper understanding of energy and entropy in the economy, all efforts to achieve sustainability will fail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breaking the intractable cycle of poverty in a country requires effective resolution of the unemployment problem by the government. One approach to mitigate unemployment is to foster investment in various sectors, and in the era of the industrial revolution, technological innovation should also be considered. The correlation between technology and unemployment has been extensively debated, and this study seeks to examine the connections between technological progress, physical investment, education, inflation, and unemployment in the United States. We utilized panel data from the 51 states from 2015 to 2021 and found that technological advancements resulted in a decline in the unemployment rate, while inflation had an inverse relationship with it, as predicted by the Phillips curve. However, investments in education increased the unemployment rate, indicating that highly educated individuals experienced notable employment difficulties. Our study had two distinct parts: the initial phase analyzed the statistical explanations for the outcomes, while the latter phase introduced initiatives that focused on government intervention to halt the rising unemployment rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a conceptual framework to investigate the economy-wide impacts of factor-biased technological change and the role of policy packages to spur inclusiveness of the economy. Based on this conceptual framework, this study explores the impacts of proposed policy-mixes in terms of growth and distribution using a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model. The results show that the policy package consisting of innovation, education, and taxation policies has the potentials to serve as a policy option to achieve the inclusive growth. Our simulation results suggest that governments should adapt tax systems for the inclusive growth and adjustment mechanisms to help workers navigate sufficient opportunities for skill accumulation, and to facilitate technological innovation within the economic system. Our results shed light on the importance of the policy packages in resolving the side effects of factor-biased technological progress and spur the inclusive growth in the knowledge-based economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better understand the long-term consequences and the possible channels (mainly, technological progress and human capital accumulation) through which a declining population may eventually sustain long-run economic growth and innovation in advanced economies, we build an endogenous, non-scale growth model with horizontal R&D activity and human capital investment. Population growth and per capita human capital accumulation are linked to each other by means of what in the paper is identified as the 'multiplicative effect' of population. As long as the strength of this effect exceeds a given positive threshold, population growth and per-capita income growth can be negatively correlated. This means that a negative rate of population growth can sustain a positive economic growth rate in the long run. • Human capital investment is embedded into an R&D-based endogenous growth model. • The law of motion of per-capita human capital includes a class-size effect. • Economic growth is simultaneously sustained by R&D– and human capital–investments. • Conditions are found for negative population growth to yield positive macro effects. • We challenge the idea that a declining population is always bad for long-run growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study identifies cross-country and intertemporal differences in the effects of trade exposure on per capita national income. We develop a small open economy endogenous growth model with high- and low-technology sectors and endogenous human capital accumulation. We then test the predictions of our model on a sample of 70 countries over the period 1980–2017. Our main assertion is that gains from trade are not only disproportionate across countries but also contrasting over time, depending on the technology intensity of exports. Countries with lower initial experience in the production of technology-intensive goods and services tend to specialize in sectors with lower demand for better-educated and high-skilled workforce, which lowers the return to and individual incentives for education. Consequently, trade-induced specialization patterns, due to their implications about technological progress, appear to be an important factor causing cross-national divergence in welfare. Our theoretical model implies that, in an unskilled labor-abundant country, higher exposure to international trade can decrease the long-run growth rate, even though it increases short-run per capita income. In a skilled-labor abundant country, both short-run and long-run effects are positive. Our empirical findings, which identify short-run and long-run effects separately, strongly support these predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed the impact of technological progress and digitization on Ghana's economy using panel data for the period 2009–2019. Technological progress and economic growth inter-dependency was analyzed in two steps. First, the relation was tested using Augmented Dickey–Fuller method. Second, we estimated the long-run relation between the variables by using Engel Granger and Error Correction models. The results indicate that adopting technology or digitizing the economy has the potential to drive sustainable growth and development. In particular, it was noted that ICT investments drive high productivity rates and faster economic growth. In sum, technological progress and digitization have the potential to foster significant growth and therefore must be given high credence in the planning and designing of development programmes. This paper contributes to development theories on the role that ICT plays in economic growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, Pakistan is in a stage of urbanization and industrialization, raising its energy demand and supply and carbon dioxide emissions (CO2Es) due to the excessive use of fossil fuels. In meeting future demand and supply predictions, much emphasis should be given to both energy consumption and the level of inter-factor and inter-fuel substitution possibilities. Specifically, future outcomes for energy demand are more valid when production models contemplate substitution elasticity occurring during the period. To analyze the potential for little reliance on fossil fuels and diminish CO2Es, the present research has examined the potential for the substitution of energy and non-energy factors (i.e., natural gas, electricity, petroleum, labor, and capital) by using translog productions function over the period between 1986–2019. The ridge regression method is applied to evade the multicollinearity issue in the data. The model analyzes the output elasticity, substitution elasticity, technical progress, and carbon emission scenarios. The results show that the output elasticities are growing, presenting that the contribution of all factors adds to economic growth. The inputs between capital-petroleum, capital-electricity, labor-electricity, capital-natural gas, and natural gas-electricity are extreme substitutes. These substitutes are increasing capital growth and production sizes. The relative difference in technical progress shows a small positive change between 3–7% with convergence evident. Lastly, the investment scenarios under 5% and 10% investment in petroleum reduction are evidence that the CO2Es would reduce by 7.5 Mt and 10.43 Mt under scenario 1 and 7.0 Mt and 10.9 Mt under scenario 2. The results have broader suggestions for energy-conserving policies, particularly under the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a difference between the ways investment in general and advanced education affects human capital accumulation. Based on the endogenous economic growth model, this study considered the impact of hierarchical education investment on human capital accumulation and economic growth. Using Provincial Panel Data, the empirical analysis found that only investment in general education had a significant effect on economic output per capita, while the effect of investment in advanced education was insignificant. Increasing investment in general education could promote technological progress. However, increasing investment in advanced education does not, which means that the human capital accumulated as a result of advanced education does not have the expected benefit. Furthermore, the expansion of enrolment in colleges and universities promoted the effect of advanced education on economic output and technological progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital development is critical for achieving coordinated regional economic growth, energy conservation, and emissions reduction, which makes it a viable method for achieving carbon neutrality and peaks. This study investigates the impact of the digital economy on urban total factor productivity and carbon emissions, as well as its mechanism, from 2011 to 2019 by developing a digital economy evaluation index system. We find that the growth of the digital economy can increase urban total factor productivity while lowering carbon emissions and also has a significant spatial spillover effect on regional economic growth, energy conservation, and emissions reduction. The main influencing mechanism is that the digital economy accelerates marketization by encouraging industrial structure upgrades and technological progress, which results in higher total factor productivity and lower energy consumption. In terms of the spatial distribution, the digital economy promotes total factor productivity more in the central and western regions and large cities and promotes carbon emission reduction less in the eastern regions and smaller cities. The findings extend the benefits of the digital economy beyond economic and social welfare benefits and serve as a model for achieving a win–win situation in terms of both economic growth and carbon emissions reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to examine the output and total factor productivity (TFP) growth by estimating a stochastic frontier production function for a panel of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries, and to decompose TFP growth into technical change, technical efficiency, and scale efficiency. The empirical findings reveal that, while factor accumulation is the main driver of output growth in the MENA region, TFP growth is increasingly accounting for a respectable proportion of output growth, with improved technical efficiency playing a crucial role in productivity growth. Specifically, the average annual TFP growth is found to be 0.846%, with positive contributions from technical efficiency and scale efficiency. However, the results show that technical progress has had a negative impact on TFP growth. The positive growth in technical efficiency suggests that the countries are catching up towards the optimal production frontier. At a disaggregated level, oil-rich countries registered negative effects of technical progress, while non-oil countries registered negative effects of scale efficiency. Technical efficiency, however, accounts for the largest positive factor in TFP growth in both oil and non-oil country groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a systematic assessment of the alleged exceptionality of Malaysia's development progress and its likely explanations, in comparative perspective. Using cross-country regressions and aggregate indices of education, health, poverty and gender equality outcomes, we produce evidence based on conditional correlations, offering three findings. First, the results support the hypothesis that Malaysia's human development progress has been exceptional compared with that of countries with a similar level of economic development, primarily for the period 1970–1990. Next, we show that such progress is associated with a combination of income-mediated and support-led mechanisms, including Malaysia's early emphasis on education and health inputs and infrastructure development. Finally, we look at long-term roots of its progress, arguing that early advantage in state capacity may be at the origin of Malaysia's successful implementation of poverty reduction and growth-enhancing policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy attracts attentions by removing the harmful effects of fossil fuels and protecting the environment. The focus of this study is to investigate GDP per capita, carbon dioxide emissions per capita, technological innovation and trade as the determinants of renewable energy production for the selected Latin American countries during the 1991–2014 period. Technological innovation factor is rarely investigated as one of the determinants of renewable energy. The country group includes Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Guatemala. Empirical results are obtained by applying panel estimation methods. Cointegration relationship among the analyzed variables is confirmed by Pedroni and Westerlund panel cointegration tests. According to the empirical analysis, GDP per capita, technological innovation and trade have positive and statistically significant impact on renewable energy production per capita. On the other hand, it is found that carbon dioxide emissions and renewable energy production are negatively associated. In addition, the elasticity estimates with respect to technological innovation and trade are found as close to each other. The policy implications of the empirical findings are argued as well. [Display omitted] • The drivers of renewable energy generation are analyzed by panel data techniques. • A 1% rise in output is found to increase renewable energy production by 0.26%. • The effects of technological innovation and trade are estimated as very close. • The elasticity estimate with respect to CO2 emission is found as −0.196. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper revisits the question of demand in the works of Adam Smith and David Ricardo by adopting a novel approach: the joint examination of the concepts of "effectual demand" and the "extent of the market." The discussion on "effectual demand" highlights its social nature and finds that in a multi-commodity framework, the vector of commodity supplies adapts to the vector of effectual demands. Subsequently, the "extent of the market" is seen to play a distinct role in determining economic growth as a demand-side determinant alongside the supply-side determinants of net saving and technological progress. The connections between the "extent of the market" and "effectual demand" are also explored in this paper. The findings point to a more important analytical role for demand in both Smith and Ricardo than has hitherto been highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The empowerment of small and medium economic enterprises will drive economic growth. The purpose of this study is to analyze (1) how economic growth works as a determinant of increasing the productivity of small and medium enterprises; (2) the influence of government policies, business capital support, and the strengthening of human resource capacity on the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs); and (3) strategies to increase business productivity and the sustainability of SMEs. We used a sequential explanatory design, which is a combination of quantitative and qualitative research, and data were obtained through observation, in-depth interviews, surveys, and documentation. The results of the study indicate that economic growth coupled with technological innovation will boost the productivity of economic enterprises and increase people's welfare. Government policies, business capital support, and human resource capacity strengthening simultaneously have a positive effect on the development of SMEs, with a determination coefficient of 97.6%. Based on the results of this study, an economic growth strategy based on technological innovation is recommended for government decision making as an effort to increase the productivity of community economic enterprises in Makassar City, Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important part of the world economy today, the marine economy is of great significance for promoting economic growth and sustainable development. To better promote the development of marine economy, the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) unit root test was first used to test the stationarity of marine economy related variables to ensure the reliability of the model. Then, the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) is used to analyze the long-term stable relationship and short-term dynamic adjustment relationship between the marine industrial structure rationalization and the marine economic growth. These results reveal the mechanism of the influence of the rationalization of marine industrial structure on the growth of marine economy. It is found that among the eastern coastal provinces and cities, the rationalization level of marine industrial structure in Shanghai is up to 0.163 points, which is higher than other cities. The main reasons are the low specialization index of marine labor force, the comprehensive utilization amount of industrial waste in 10,000 yuan of gross marine product, the low environmental protection index, and the large gap between the benefits of each index. In addition, the study also found that the Granger causality test values of the delayed combination of variables Gross Ocean Product (GOP), ts, GOP, and ts were 5.531, 14.672, and 15.069, respectively. Finally, it is found that the upgrading of marine industrial structure and the output of marine economy will correct the deviation of industry rationalization below the equilibrium value in the short term at a rate of 0.1675. According to the above results, the study puts forward the following suggestions. First, it needs to strengthen the planning and layout of the marine industry, rationally guide the allocation of resources and industrial development. Second, it needs to increase support for scientific and technological innovation, and promote technological progress and industrial upgrading. The third is to strengthen the government's policy support and supervision to provide a stable policy environment and market environment for industrial development. The innovation lies in the systematic study of the relationship between the rationalization of marine industrial structure and the growth of marine economy. • The influence of the rationalization of Marine industrial structure on the growth of Marine economy was discussed. • A mathematical model is established to reveal the relationship between Marine industrial structure and economic growth. • To study the relationship between Marine industry and economic growth, and put forward policy recommendations. • The study provides theoretical research and policy reference to promote the sustainable development of the Marine economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We study real GDP per capita convergence among the CEE-8 and their catch-up towards the old EU-15 member states during the period 1995–2017. • We use an innovative analytical framework of convergence testing proposed by Phillips and Sul that accounts for heterogeneity in technological progress across countries. • Our empirical results indicate that in the EU-15 no distinct convergent patterns exist. • There is convergence among the CEE-8 countries. • The hypothesis of the CEE-8 convergence towards the old EU-15 is rejected • The CEE-8 are converging towards two largest EU countries: Germany and France. The enlargement of the European Union in 2004 to include Central and Eastern European countries has revived the convergence debate. This study concentrates on the empirical investigation of real GDP per capita convergence between the CEE-8 and their catch-up towards the old EU-15 member states. The empirical study is based on the innovative analytical framework of convergence testing proposed by Phillips and Sul that accounts for heterogeneity in technological progress across countries. Our empirical results indicate that in the EU-15 no distinct convergent patterns exist. However, there is convergence among the CEE-8 countries. Moreover, the hypothesis of the CEE-8 convergence towards the old EU-15 is rejected. Nevertheless, the CEE-8 seem to be converging towards two largest EU countries: Germany and France. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the impact of state-owned enterprises on economic growth in China. We consider several possible channels through which state-owned enterprises might play a pro-growth role: first, stabilizing growth in economic downturns by carrying out massive investments; second, promoting technical progress by investing in riskier areas of technology; third, by following a high-road approach to treating workers by paying a living wage which is favorable for China to move toward a more sustainable growth model in the future. Our empirical analysis finds that a higher share of state-owned enterprises is favorable to long-run growth and tends to offset the adverse effect of economic downturns on the regional level. JEL Classification : E11, O47, P31 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contemporary society, industrial property rights are carriers of economic growth, technological development, and general wellbeing. The market economy can hardly develop without the protection of industrial property and innovations. The industrial property in the contemporary economy presents one of the main competitive advantages. The protection of the intangible property from authorized use is a condition for profitable operation, which is, of course, the main premise for innovations, foreign investments, increase of the gross domestic product, foreign trade and increase of employment. The paper will also analyze the results from the authors' own research and research conducted in the EU regarding the influence of the protection of industrial property rights on innovations, employment, and economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the short-term and long-term impacts of economic growth, trade openness and technological progress on renewable energy use in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Based on a panel data set of 25 OECD countries for 43 years, we used the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach and the related intermediate estimators, including pooled mean group (PMG), mean group (MG) and dynamic fixed effect (DFE) to achieve the objective. The estimated ARDL model has also been checked for robustness using the two substitute single equation estimators, these being the dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) and fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS). Empirical results reveal that economic growth, trade openness and technological progress significantly influence renewable energy use over the long-term in OECD countries. While the long-term nature of dynamics of the variables is found to be similar across 25 OECD countries, their short-term dynamics are found to be mixed in nature. This is attributed to varying levels of trade openness and technological progress in OECD countries. Since this is a pioneer study that investigates the issue, the findings are completely new and they make a significant contribution to renewable energy literature as well as relevant policy development. • Economic growth, trade openness and technological growth drive renewable energy use. • Long-term dynamics of the variables are found homogenous across the OECD countries. • Short-term dynamics vary as to variation in technological growth and trade openness. • An understanding of variable dynamics is vital for increasing renewable energy use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• If social influences are forceful, they are usually based on economic pressure. • Resource based technical progress coerces firms and households to grow. • States' growth policies are substantially driven by technological unemployment. • The meritocratic principle is a key for understanding restrictions on policy making. • Limiting resource use and redistributing rents can stabilize markets without growth. Economic growth remains a prominent political goal, despite its conflicts with ecological sustainability. Are growth policies only a question of political or individual will, or do 'growth imperatives' make them inescapable? We structure the debate along two dimensions: (a) degree of coerciveness between free will and coercion, and (b) agents affected. With carefully derived micro level definitions of 'social coercion' and 'growth imperative', we discuss several mechanisms suspected to make growth necessary for firms, households, and nation states. We identify technological innovations as a systematic necessity to net invest, trapping firms and households in a positive feedback loop to increase efficiency. Resource-intensive technology is economically attractive because of a subtle violation of the meritocratic principle of justice. The resulting dilemma between 'technological unemployment' and the social necessity of high employment explains why states 'must' foster economic growth. Politically, we suggest to institutionally limit resource consumption and redistribute economic rents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western economies nowadays are confronted with a predicted productivity slowdown resulting in diminishing rates of economic growth. While some scholars see these developments as an indication of the approaching end of growth due to fully exploited technological opportunities, this article contends that the possibilities for radical, paradigm changing innovations are far from being exploited. Building on contributions from Schumpeter and Georgescu-Roegen, we argue that the human capacity to expand technological and intellectual frontiers must not be underestimated. In a selective retrospect, our narrative identifies and describes four historical incidents reflecting different perceptions of the power of the human mind. It synthesizes the mentioned economists' viewpoints with the effects of these incidents to reproduce the intellectual roots of the recently developed concept of Dedicated Innovation Systems (DIS).We conclude that traditional macro-level indicators are not suitable to capture transformation processes, which is why we propose to interpret growth indicators and the alleged productivity slowdown quite differently. We argue that human ingenuity and transformation processes dedicated to sustainability will open up new opportunity spaces, thereby combining an increase in economic welfare and social justice with a reduction of negative environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current nexus between education and economic growth leads us to propose a hybrid and integrated theoretical model. The variables chosen for this research were human capital and labour, and their impact on unemployment and economic growth was considered. In the validation of the theoretical model, different equations were contemplated, and the ARDL co-integration technique for its estimation was chosen. This study emphasizes the importance of technological progress, physical capital and human capital; the latter is measured by educational training and its interactive effect on employment and unemployment in explaining the behaviour of economic growth in the US from 1981 to 2019. The results show different statistical significance in the short and long term. These results corroborate the premise that there are partial adjustments in the short term, particularly after an economic crisis. In the long term, economic growth is affected by the positive or negative magnitudes of the product elasticity for each of the drivers considered. In terms of policy implications, a combination of structural and demand-driven policies must be implemented to reduce unemployment, in particular, to halt protracted economic recessions. • ARDL confirms long-run relationship is observed for all six equations. • In the short term, the increase in secondary education and unemployment reduces GDP. • In the short term, the increase in tertiary education and unemployment reduces GDP. • In the short term, any imbalance in GDP converges in the long term. • In the long run, a rise in tertiary education and jobless have a tiny impact on GDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the effect of economic growth and the association of environmental degradation on economies' technological change and technological catch-up. Using a conditional nonparametric frontier analysis to a sample of 73 economies over the time period 1980–2014, empirical evidence of the examined relationship is provided both under full and partial frontiers in the constant and variable returns to scale (VRS) models. Specifically, the newly proposed time-dependent conditional nonparametric frontier estimators have been applied. In our case the time-dependent conditional efficiency estimators allow us to model directly the effects of growth and time on economies' estimated performance without requiring any specification of the production functional form and without assuming the separability condition between time, economic growth and the support of inputs and outputs. The overall results reveal that the efficiency results of full and partial frontiers tend to lead to the same results, except in the cases of full VRS models where energy use and carbon dioxide emissions are incorporated as an additional input and output, respectively. The results demonstrate that countries with a higher environmental efficiency are those that have signed the first agreement between nations (Kyoto Protocol) to mandate country-by-country reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions, while countries that have not signed are relatively inefficient. Ultimately, the empirical findings also suggest that the effect of economic growth is determined by economies' development stage and geographical region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bangladesh has traditionally relied on fossil fuels for meeting its energy demand whereby this major South Asian economy has not been able to safeguard its environment from greenhouse gas emission-related adversities. Moreover, by ratifying several international environmental agreements, especially the Paris Accord and the Sustainable Development Goals, the government of Bangladesh has expressed its solidarity in abating greenhouse gas emissions through the deployment of relevant environmental policies. Hence, this study assesses the impacts of petroleum consumption, economic growth, and technological innovation on carbon emissions in Bangladesh using quarterly frequency data from 1972Q1 to 2020Q4. Overall, apart from confirming the cointegrating relationships among the variables, the regression findings reveal that higher petroleum consumption and economic growth stimulate environmental degradation by boosting carbon dioxide emissions while technological innovation reinstates environmental well-being by curbing the Bangladesh's emission figures. Additionally, technological innovation is seen to moderate the relationship between petroleum consumption and carbon emissions by jointly reducing the emissions with petroleum consumption. Lastly, the causality analysis shows that petroleum consumption, economic growth, and technological innovation causally influence carbon emissions. Based on these key findings, it is recommended that Bangladesh mitigates its petroleum dependency, blends environmental objectives into its economic growth policies, and develops its technological stock. • Determinants of environmental well-being in Bangladesh are analyzed. • Petroleum consumption and economic growth boost carbon emissions. • Technological innovation reduce carbon emissions. • Technological innovation moderates the petroleum consumption-carbon emissions nexus. • Petroleum consumption and technological innovation jointly reduce carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the complex interrelationship between economic growth and the urban–rural income inequality in China by estimating a simultaneous equation system. This study uses a panel data-set that covers 29 provinces from 1988 to 2007, and compares the earlier period with the later period. It finds a robust and positive impact of the rural surplus labor on urban–rural inequality, which is consistent with Lewis’ dual economy theory. Economic growth is found to aggravate the urban–rural inequality in the earlier period, but there is no hard evidence in the later period. This implies that China has not yet, or at least by 2007, entered the second stage of the Kuznets curve. We also find no robust evidence on the impact of the inequality on growth in either period, but find robust evidence on the impact of both foreign direct investment and exports on the increasing inequality during the earlier period, whereas no significant impact in the later period is found. Finally, the spread of education reduced the inequality in the earlier period, but no such impact is robust in the later period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the literature on export-led growth models differences in income elasticities of demand for imports and exports among countries bring about different degrees of external constraint on growth. However, there is not in this literature an explanation that uses the Evolutionary concept of National Innovation System (NIS) that shows why there are differences in income elasticities among countries. Moreover, there is not a consensus about the exogenicity of the elasticities. Some authors highlight the high level of income elasticity of demand for exports in sectors with high level of technological intensity. However these authors seem to not explain the motive for this. The aim of this paper is to theoretically show the causal relation between an economy's NIS, its income elasticities and its Current Account performance. It also aims to show the role of NIS in the exogeinicity/endogeinicity of the income elasticities. Empirical evidence and a Granger Causality Test are presented and do not reject the core argument of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy and green innovation are important to a country's economic progress, but the externalities of increased pollution as a result of a rise in energy used and economic growth must not be overlooked. Within the Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence, and Technology (STIRPAT) framework, this study aims to check empirically the effect of environment-related technologies (ERT), coal consumption (CC), economic growth (EG), and population density (PD) on the consumption-based CO 2 emissions (CCO 2e) in the BRICS (i.e., Brazil, Russia, India, China, & South Africa), as with fast economic progress BRICS is facing problems of CO 2 emission. The econometric techniques of the cross-sectional dependence test, slope heterogeneity test, and second-generation panel unit root test were used to check the nature of the data. The available balance data over the period 1985–2018 were analyzed via Driscoll and Kraay and a dynamic common correlated effect mean group (DCCEMG). Long-term empirical findings show that ERT has a negative impact on the CCO 2e , while per capita GDP and CC have a positive impact on CCO 2e. Empirical evidence recommends that ERT is important for BRICS countries' long-term sustainability. It is suggested that policymakers should encourage ERT that help in curbing their CO 2 emanations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In achieving the "double carbon" target, the emission trading system (ETS), as a key market-based emission reduction mechanism, assumes the responsibility of addressing climate change and implementing reform. Most studies focus only on the emission reduction effects of green policy, but weighing the relationship between emission reduction and development is a practical dilemma to be faced. Taking China's pilot ETS as an example, this problem was analyzed using the synthetic control method, and the specific impact channels are discussed. It was found that: (1) Carbon emissions and carbon emission intensity in the pilot ETS areas of Tianjin, Hubei and Chongqing decreased significantly, and economic growth has progressed to a certain extent. Robustness tests basically verified the effectiveness of the policy implementation. (2) The pilot ETS mainly has an impact through the transformation and upgrading, and technological innovation channels, promoting significant improvements in energy structure, industrial structure, energy efficiency and the number of patent applications. This study releases a positive signal for the compatibility of emission reduction and economic development goals at the national level for China's pilot ETS. • The pilot ETS significantly reduced carbon emissions and carbon emission intensity. • The pilot ETS promoted economic growth to some extent. • Transformation and upgrading, and technological innovation are the influencing channel. • The SCM method can synthesize the "ideal" control unit to evaluate the policy effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on threshold regression models, this paper analyzes the effect of economic growth on energy intensity by using panel data from 21 developed countries from 1996 to 2015. Results show that a 1% increase in GDP per capita can lead to a 0.62–0.78% reduction in energy intensity, implying economic growth can significantly reduce energy intensity. The extent of the reduction in energy intensity varies depending on the economic development stages represented by key influencing factors including energy mix in consumption, urbanization, industrial structure, and technological progress. Specifically, the reduction in energy intensity due to economic growth can be enhanced with relatively more renewable energy consumption and more urban population until a threshold point, where the enhancement disappears. On the other hand, the extent of the energy intensity reduction due to economic growth can be weakened with relatively more tertiary industry activities and more research and development (R&D) investment in an economy until a threshold point, where the weakening cannot continue. However, compared to the early stages represented by the low ends of renewable energy consumption, urban population, tertiary industry activities, and R&D investment, the later stages represented by the high ends of these key factors after a threshold show the weakened effect of economic growth on the decline of energy intensity. Hence, when an economy is well-developed, policy makers are advised to put fewer expectations on the role of economic growth to reduce energy intensity, while pursuing relatively cleaner energy, greater urbanization, more tertiary industry activities, and advanced technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we examine whether innovation and information and communication technology (ICT) contribute to reducing producer prices, thus promoting economic growth. We also check whether the contributions of ICT enhance environmental quality, leading to sustainable economic growth. To this end, we apply panel data techniques to the 27 EU countries over the period of recovery from the financial crisis. Our results suggest that technological progress leads to a significant reduction in producer prices. Moreover, controlling for some macroeconomics factors, ICT fosters per capita economic growth in the European countries. Finally, we found that the higher the ICT employment is, the lower greenhouse gas emissions are. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We employ a non-parametric modelling technique to examine the time-varying impact of renewable and non-renewable energy consumption on economic growth. The specific nonparametric method that we employ is the local linear dummy variable estimation (LLDVE) method, which we apply to OECD and non-OECD panels for the period 1990 to 2015. While previous studies employing parametric models have recognised the existence of non-linearities and instability in the relationship between renewable (and non-renewable) energy consumption and economic growth, the LLDVE method has the advantage that it does not make any assumptions about functional form and, hence, is better able to approximate the non-linear relationship. Our estimates suggest that non-renewable energy consumption exerts a positive and significant impact on economic growth across OECD nations with the coefficient function exhibiting an upward trajectory over time. The impact of renewable energy consumption on economic growth, however, is statistically indistinguishable from zero in these countries for most of the study period. Both renewable and non-renewable energy consumption promote economic growth in non-OECD countries, suggesting that developing countries may play an important role in the transition process to renewables despite constraints in technical progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of the circular economy (CE), a model promoting the cyclical use of resources, and Industry 4.0, an intelligent-based approach to manufacturing, is expected to achieve sustainability. Finding the most suitable path for technological progress and structural change to promote economic growth is the key to adopting Industry 4.0 technologies and successfully transforming to a CE, and thus, key to China achieving sustainable development quickly. This study identifies the joint effects of energy- and environment-biased technological progress and multi-dimensional industrial structural change on economic growth, and empirically verifies the specific effects within China. Our results are as follows. First, pollution abatement technological progress, backstop technological progress and autogenous structural ecologicalization are the main drivers of sustainable economic growth. Second, innovation policies have a positive impact on national economic growth by promoting pollution abatement technological progress. Finally, in sub-regions' regression, backstop and environment technology, and structural ecologicalization promote eastern China's economy, while policies drive environment technological progress and structural ecologicalization to stimulate economic growth in central and western China. Our results imply that policymakers should take into consideration the readiness levels of each region regarding the adoption of Industry 4.0 and circular economy, and that the government should consider and ensure the participation of all stakeholders, including firms. • Focus on the economy's driving forces under Industry 4.0 and circular economy. • Environment and new-energy technological progress promote economic growth in China. • Innovation policy drives economic growth by inducing biased technological progress. • Backstop and environment technological progress benefit eastern and central China. • Industrial policy works well on structural ecologicalization and regional economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jin, Y. and Shi, D., 2020. The impact of bank credit and technological innovation on economic growth in Jiangsu coastal areas. In: Bai, X. and Zhou, H. (eds.), Advances in Water Resources, Environmental Protection, and Sustainable Development. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 115, pp. 35-38. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Regional innovation capability is the core and driving force of regional economic development, especially its key role in economic growth has been confirmed by many related research results. With the continuous progress of the society, the pace of economic and financial development has accelerated, the living standard of people has improved obviously, and the consumption demand is also strengthening. Only when the economy develops to a certain extent can financial development promote the improvement of the quality of economic growth. It is even more necessary to encourage innovation, protect innovation and help innovative talents to stand out in the social environment. Therefore, Jiangsu coastal areas should adopt a point-axis development model, further improve the financial structure, promote the integration of financial resources, and support the innovative and coordinated development of coastal areas in order to achieve the overall and coordinated development of Jiangsu economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jin, Y. and Shi, D., 2020. The impact of bank credit and technological innovation on economic growth in Jiangsu coastal areas. In: Bai, X. and Zhou, H. (eds.), Advances in Water Resources, Environmental Protection, and Sustainable Development. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 115, pp. 35-38. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Regional innovation capability is the core and driving force of regional economic development, especially its key role in economic growth has been confirmed by many related research results. With the continuous progress of the society, the pace of economic and financial development has accelerated, the living standard of people has improved obviously, and the consumption demand is also strengthening. Only when the economy develops to a certain extent can financial development promote the improvement of the quality of economic growth. It is even more necessary to encourage innovation, protect innovation and help innovative talents to stand out in the social environment. Therefore, Jiangsu coastal areas should adopt a point-axis development model, further improve the financial structure, promote the integration of financial resources, and support the innovative and coordinated development of coastal areas in order to achieve the overall and coordinated development of Jiangsu economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Verify the inverted-U between environmental regulation and economic growth. • Economic development of the Yangtze River Delta shows a good interactive pattern. • Environmental regulation and economic development display good interaction pattern. • The impact mechanisms are the innovation and the resource consumption effects. • The economic integration of the Yangtze River Delta is in an orderly manner. The Yangtze River Delta region is a representative region for the development of China's urban agglomerations. This study explores the inverted U-shaped relationship between environmental regulation and economic growth in the Yangtze River Delta region during 2002–2010 using the spatial panel data model. After the introduction of instrumental variables, the U-shaped curve is still robust, which is the theoretical value of this paper. The research verifies that technological innovation and resource consumption are important mechanisms for environmental regulation to influence economic growth. Cities in the Yangtze River Delta region have good interaction patterns in environmental regulation, economic development, technological innovation and resource consumption. Economic integration development is at a good level and can provide valuable experience for the development of other urban agglomerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to the growing literature regarding the role of Information and Communication Technologies as well as Innovation on driving the level of carbon dioxide emissions and economic growth in context of the 21st conference of the Parties to the Climate convention (COP21). Drawing the data from 13 selected G-20 countries (including Argentina, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States) during the period of 15 years, our study achieves significant results. First, only five factors impede the carbon emissions namely energy price, foreign direct investment, technology, spending on innovation and trade openness while the remainder of determinants contribute to contamination of environment, including financial development. Second, when it comes to economic growth, information and communication technological and financial development are positive driving factors. Our results do reject the absence of Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) from our sample. Finally, our study empirically suggests that the work of controlling consumption of oil and environmentally friendly process including manufacture-trading in these economies will limit the amount of pollution. • GDP per capita, energy consumption and financial development lead to an increase in CO2 emissions. • The effects of FDI, trade openness, and oil prices on CO2 emissions are negative following the pollution-halo hypothesis. • There is a negative relationship between ICT, innovation and CO 2 emissions in these selected G20 countries. • To some extent, measures of ICTs and financial development tend to boost the economic growth in these countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Roman Empire experienced both extensive and intensive economic growth. This article first surveys the role of technology in that process, engaging with recent literature on intensive growth under Malthusian constraints. It goes on to investigate the difference in technological progress between the Roman Empire and medieval Europe. It argues that political fragmentation explains why medieval Europe was more innovative than the Roman world, invoking a comparison with imperial China to complement the analysis. The technological success of China under the Tang and Song shows that political fragmentation is not a precondition for progress. However, Roman emperors never invested in the practical application of useful knowledge, the way Chinese rulers did. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]