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Institutional quality, oil price, and environmental degradation in MENA countries moderated by economic complexity and shadow economy

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Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the link between environmental degradation and institutional quality and the price of oil moderated by economic complexity and the underground economy. We use quantile regressions with annual panel data for 15 countries in the Middle East and North Africa during 1995–2021. The findings indicate that institutional quality, economic complexity, and output positively and heterogeneously impact environmental degradation. However, the square of production has a negative impact, confirming an inverted U relationship between production and environmental degradation. Likewise, we find that the price of oil and the underground economy have a negative and heterogeneous impact on environmental degradation. Based on our results, a potential recommendation for policymakers is that the institutional framework of Middle Eastern and North African countries should be accompanied by a more significant concern for the environment instead of prioritizing extractive growth that is detrimental to the environment’s environmental sustainability. Likewise, economic diversification will mitigate environmental degradation and improve formal employment. Our findings are relevant to policymakers and researchers interested in promoting ecological sustainability.

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Abbreviations

MENA:

Middle East and North Africa

UNO:

United Nations Organization

CO2 :

Carbon dioxide emissions

ED:

Environmental degradation

IQ:

Institutional quality

OP:

Oil price

EG:

Economic growth

EC:

Economic complexity

SE:

Shadow economy

ICRG:

International Country Risk Guide

VIF:

Variance inflator factor

EKC:

Environmental Kuznets curve

CD:

Cross-section

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Carrera de Economía, Universidad Nacional de Loja, 110150, Loja, Ecuador

    Lizeth Cuesta

  2. Esai Business School, Universidad Espíritu Santo, 091650, Samborondon, Ecuador

    Rafael Alvarado

  3. College of International Economics & Trade, Ningbo University of Finance and Economics, 315175, Zhejiang, Ningbo, China

    Munir Ahmad

  4. “Belt and Road” Bulk Commodity Research Center, Ningbo University of Finance and Economics, 315175, Ningbo, China

    Munir Ahmad

  5. Department of Economics, School of Business and Economics, North South University, 1229, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Muntasir Murshed

  6. Department of Journalism, Media and Communications, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Muntasir Murshed

  7. College of Economics and Management, Henan Agricultural University, 450002, Zhengzhou, China

    Abdul Rehman

  8. Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Anadolu University, Tepebaşı, Eskişehir, Türkiye

    Cem Işık

  9. Adnan Kassar School of Business, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon

    Cem Işık

Authors
  1. Lizeth Cuesta
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  2. Rafael Alvarado
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  3. Munir Ahmad
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  4. Muntasir Murshed
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  5. Abdul Rehman
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  6. Cem Işık
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Contributions

L. C.: introduction, results and discussion, data curation, econometric strategy; R. A.: econometric strategy, initial analysis, supervision, editing, M. A.: data, editing; M. M.: literature review, visualization, analysis; A. R.: methodology; C. I.: conclusions and policy implications

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Correspondence to Rafael Alvarado.

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Cuesta, L., Alvarado, R., Ahmad, M. et al. Institutional quality, oil price, and environmental degradation in MENA countries moderated by economic complexity and shadow economy. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 105793–105807 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-29758-1

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