Topics in Middle Eastern and North African Economies

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-2018

Abstract

Our aim is to study the interrelationship between CO2 emissions and gross domestic product (GDP) trends in selected MENA countries in order to detect whether environmental pressure has decoupled from economic growth in the region. Several MENA countries have become less carbon intensive along their growth paths due to different reasons. Some have been trying to switch their energy systems away from fossil fuels and some use less energy per unit of economic activity. Services sectors, which are less energy-intensive, are on the rise, whereas industrial sectors are shrinking. This study seeks to answer whether this is a general phenomenon observed in the MENA, and examines the impact of these factors on the possible existence or lack of such decoupling in a panel data setting. In regards to the ways that give rise to possible decoupling, technological changes enable countries to economize on energy use, especially when the prices of energy increase in oil/gas importing economies. The role of the private sector is also crucial to drive decoupling of CO2 emissions and economic growth. This paper intends to propose possible policy options for the region including public policies that encourage renewable energy and discourage subsidizing fossil fuels.

Journal Title

Topics in Middle Eastern and North African Economies

ISSN

2334-282X

Publisher

Middle East Economic Association and Loyola University Chicago

Volume

20

Issue

2

Comments

Presentation of the articles in the Topics in Middle Eastern and North African Economies was made possible by a limited license granted to Loyola University Chicago and Middle East Economics Association from the authors who have retained all copyrights in the articles.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.

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