Revisiting the effects of energy, population, foreign direct investment, and economic growth in Visegrad countries under the EKC scheme

This research studied the impacts of the environmental Kuznets curve and the determinants of economic growth for Visegrad countries from 1990 to 2018. This paper reflects on the effects of renewable and non-renewable energy, urban population, foreign direct investment, economic growth, and carbon dioxide emissions. According to our results, the panel of unit root tests showed that the variables under study are integrated into the first differences. Considering the empirical results for the environmental Kuznets curve, we observe that economic growth is positively correlated with pollution emissions; nevertheless, the squared income per capita is negatively impacted by carbon dioxide emissions. Energy consumption increases carbon emissions, and foreign direct investment confirms the pollution halo hypothesis. Therefore, the econometric results showed that renewable energy consumption promotes regional growth. Consequently, urban population and foreign direct investment positively correlate with economic growth.

Automated summary

This research examines the environmental Kuznets curve and economic growth determinants for Visegrad countries. The findings suggest that economic growth is positively correlated with pollution emissions, while squared income per capita is negatively impacted by carbon dioxide emissions. Energy consumption increases carbon emissions, while renewable energy consumption promotes regional growth. Additionally, urban population and foreign direct investment are positively associated with economic growth.