Analyzing the impacts of economic growth, pollution, technological innovation and trade on renewable energy production in selected Latin American countries

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. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study focuses on the determinants of renewable energy production in selected Latin American countries during 1991-2014, with a particular emphasis on the positive impact of GDP per capita, technological innovation, and trade on renewable energy production per capita, as well as the negative association between carbon dioxide emissions and renewable energy production. The elasticity estimates for technological innovation and trade are found to be close to each other, indicating their similar impacts on renewable energy production.