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• Open Access Article Economics

  17 Pages Download PDF: Exploring How Income Inequality, Education, and Policy Shape Energy Access Disparities in Southeast Asia

  Exploring How Income Inequality, Education, and Policy Shape Energy Access Disparities in Southeast Asia

  Syeda Anam Hassan, Inayatul Haq, Alamzeb Aamir, Ihtisham ul Haq, Khalid Zaman

  2025-12-18 https://doi.org/10.36923/ie-frontiers.v28i2.403

  The pursuance of Sustainable Development Goal 7, Affordable and Clean Energy, takes center stage in this research in the vibrant geography of Southeast Asia. This investigation centers on the social and economic ramifications of renewable energy policy, examining the various factors that influence energy fairness and justice. The study aims to determine how financial disparity, community participation, education, policy support, and geographical constraints affected energy access discrepancies in a panel of nine selected Southeast Asian countries from 2000 to 2023. The study employed a panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model and robust least squares regression for estimation. Income inequality negatively and significantly affects energy access disparity (EAD) in the panel ARDL model. Community involvement and education improve energy accessibility. Education raises awareness of sustainable energy practices and technology, which increases energy-efficient solution adoption. Community involvement affects inclusive energy access and environmental sustainability policies, and public opinion. Additionally, geographical obstacles and public support are correlated positively, indicating that practical policy actions and investments can increase energy availability. Centralized infrastructure, technology, and egalitarian energy solutions may overcome geographical obstacles. Finally, policy support has an "inverted U-shaped" pattern, suggesting that it may promote socioeconomic growth and reduce energy access inequities. The study provides deep insights that can influence targeted policy choices and promote a sustainable and inclusive energy future for Southeast Asian countries.

  pp. 14-30 Abstract views:862 Downloads:181

• Open Access Article Economics

  10 Pages Download PDF: An Asymmetrical Relationship Between Oil Price Fluctuations And Geopolitical Tensions Between China And The United States

  An Asymmetrical Relationship Between Oil Price Fluctuations And Geopolitical Tensions Between China And The United States

  Abdelkader Mohamed Sghaier Derbali

  2026-02-24 https://doi.org/10.36923/ie-frontiers.v29i1.408

  Oil remains a strategic asset at the heart of contemporary geopolitical rivalries. China’s rise to become the world’s largest importer and the United States’ transformation into a major producer and exporter have profoundly altered the energy balance of power, reinforcing the interdependence between oil markets and bilateral geopolitical tensions. This article examines the existence and nature of an asymmetric relationship between oil price fluctuations and geopolitical tensions between China and the United States, distinguishing the effects of price increases and decreases and their dependence on risk regimes. The analysis is based on monthly data covering 2000–2024 and employs a nonlinear econometric approach that combines an NARDL model for asymmetric cointegration, a Quantile VAR (QVAR) model to capture conditional effects by risk level, and an EGARCH model to analyze the asymmetric transmission of geopolitical uncertainty to oil volatility. The results show that rising oil prices significantly intensify Sino-American geopolitical tensions, while falling prices have a weaker and less persistent effect. This asymmetry is particularly pronounced during periods of high international instability. Furthermore, geopolitical tensions significantly increase oil price volatility, with a leverage effect indicating that negative geopolitical shocks have a disproportionate impact on energy markets. These results suggest that the asymmetry in the oil-geopolitical transmission reflects differentiated energy vulnerabilities and distinct strategic behaviors between China and the United States. The study underscores the importance of oil as a vector of asymmetric interdependence and as an amplifier of international tensions, with major implications for energy security policies, financial market stability, and global energy governance.

  pp. 01-10 Abstract views:790 Downloads:685

• Open Access Article Economics

  16 Pages Download PDF: When Green Accounting Fails to Drive Green Energy: Institutional Quality and China’s Renewable Energy Transition

  When Green Accounting Fails to Drive Green Energy: Institutional Quality and China’s Renewable Energy Transition

  Saqib Munir, Mushab Rashid, Abdul Ghaffar

  2026-05-17 https://doi.org/10.36923/ie-frontiers.v29i1.426

  This study examines how institutional quality, government R&D expenditure, and SEEA-aligned environmental asset indicators are associated with renewable energy adoption in China from 1999 to 2023. It addresses the puzzle that environmental accounting signals and innovation investment do not automatically translate into renewable energy use. Annual data from the World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators were analyzed using a hybrid empirical strategy. The Autoregressive Distributed Lag approach was applied to estimate short-run and long-run relationships, while Double Machine Learning, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, and SHAP interpretability were used as supplementary tools for robustness and predictive importance. Given the limited sample size, machine-learning results are interpreted as orthogonalized associations and as predictive evidence rather than as definitive causal effects. ARDL results show that regulatory quality has a positive and statistically significant long-run association with renewable energy adoption. In contrast, government R&D expenditure and adjusted net savings show negative associations, suggesting that innovation spending and fiscal capacity may not support renewable energy adoption unless directed toward deployment and energy-system substitution. Energy resource depletion is statistically insignificant, while natural resource rents show a weak positive long-run association. Machine-learning results identify government R&D expenditure as the strongest predictor, although its direction remains negative. The findings indicate that China’s renewable energy transition depends less on fiscal or technological inputs alone and more on the institutional capacity to convert these inputs into adoption outcomes. The study implies that SEEA-based indicators should be integrated with regulatory mechanisms, deployment-oriented innovation policy, and outcome-based evaluation of energy transition.

  pp. 25-40 Abstract views:516 Downloads:170

• Open Access Article Economics Macroeconomics

  13 Pages Download PDF: Foreign Direct Investment, Capital Flows, and Sectoral Growth in Nigeria: A Comparative Analysis of Agriculture and Manufacturing

  Foreign Direct Investment, Capital Flows, and Sectoral Growth in Nigeria: A Comparative Analysis of Agriculture and Manufacturing

  Anthony Orji, Jovita Nneka Uwakwe, Onyinye Imelda Anthony-Orji, Jonathan Emenike Ogbuabor, Juliana Ngozi Obiorah

  2025-09-23 https://doi.org/10.36923/ie-frontiers.v28i2.404

  The nexus between the agricultural sector, manufacturing sector, and FDI has been a topic of debate over the years. While the fundamental role of FDI in the growth of the overall economy has been widely recognized, findings of existing literature have remained unclear and inconclusive on how the impact of FDI varies across these distinct sectors, especially within the context of developing countries like Nigeria. This study aims to provide a comprehensive comparative analysis of the impact of FDI and other capital inflows on Nigeria’s agricultural and manufacturing sectors between 1980 and 2021. Using annual time-series data from the World Bank’s World Development Indicators (WDI) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the study employs the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) modelling approach. Four sector-specific ARDL models were specified, each subjected to extensive diagnostic and robustness checks to ensure the reliability of the estimates. The findings reveal a contrasting effect: while FDI exerts no statistically significant influence on manufacturing output, it has a strong and transformative impact on agricultural performance. In addition, other capital inflows, including official development assistance, development finance, and remittances, were found to significantly influence both sectors. The study concludes that FDI is not a universal driver of growth, and its effectiveness depends on sectoral characteristics, investment type, and policy environment. It contributes to the literature by offering one of the first sector-specific comparative analyses of capital flows in Nigeria, providing evidence to guide policies aimed at shifting the economy from consumption-driven patterns toward sustainable, production-oriented growth.

  pp. 1-13 Abstract views:806 Downloads:860

• Open Access Article Economics Macroeconomics

  10 Pages Download PDF: Tourism, Migration, And Productive Capacity Growth In Sub-Saharan Africa

  Tourism, Migration, And Productive Capacity Growth In Sub-Saharan Africa

  Anthony Orji, Elis Moses Onoh, Onyinye Imelda Anthony-Orji, Jonathan Emenike Ogbuabor, Oluchi Okoro, Joseph Fanen Akpesue

  2025-12-19 https://doi.org/10.36923/ie-frontiers.v28i2.406

  Productive capacity has emerged as a critical indicator of long-term economic development, particularly for regions undergoing rapid structural transformation, such as Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Despite increasing global interest, the key drivers of productive capacity in SSA remain insufficiently explored, especially within the context of tourism and migration. Existing studies predominantly rely on GDP-based growth models and often examine tourism and migration separately, overlooking their combined influence on structural development. Moreover, the role of institutional quality in shaping productive capacity is under-investigated. This study examines how international tourism and migration affect productive capacity growth in SSA, while also considering the contributions of urbanization, trade openness, and institutional quality. Using panel data from 38 SSA countries between 2011 and 2021, the analysis employs a dynamic System Generalized Method of Moments (System GMM) estimator to address endogeneity, unobserved heterogeneity, and simultaneity among variables. The results indicate that international tourism and migration exert positive and statistically significant effects on productive capacity. Institutional quality emerges as the most influential driver, followed by urbanization and trade openness. These findings underscore the importance of structural and governance-related factors in enhancing the region’s productive capacity. Tourism and migration contribute meaningfully to productive capacity growth; however, their impact is substantially conditioned by the quality of governance and structural enablers. Policymakers should adopt sustainable tourism strategies, strengthen security and infrastructure, develop migration-friendly frameworks, enhance human capital, and prioritize institutional reforms to maximize long-term productive capacity in SSA.

  pp. 31-40 Abstract views:738 Downloads:244