ABSTRACT

This study investigates the relationship between Information and Communication Technology (ICT) penetration, electricity consumption, economic growth, and environmental pollution within a multivariate framework. A panel of 16 EU countries was analyzed over the 1990–2017 period. The results of the Dumitrescu-Hurlin panel causality tests reveal the existence of a one-way causality running from ICT usage and electricity consumption and which, in turn, causes a rise in CO₂ emissions and improves GDP. Panel Mean-Group regression results highlight that economic growth is also an important driver of electricity demand as a 1% economic growth rate is associated with a 0.13% increase in per capita electricity consumption. These results demonstrate for the first time in the literature a single assessment on the linkages among ICT, electricity use and environmental pollution with a novel focus on the EU. Based on these results, adequate measures should encompass the adverse environmental effects of ICT, while energy saving policies must be carefully implemented in order not to hinder economic growth.

摘要

这项研究在多变量框架内研究了信息和通信技术（ICT）的普及率，电力消耗，经济增长和环境污染之间的关系。在1990年至2017年期间，对16个欧盟国家的小组进行了分析。Dumitrescu-Hurlin面板因果关系测试的结果表明，存在一种基于ICT使用和电力消耗的单向因果关系，进而导致CO ₂升高排放并改善GDP。Panel Mean-Group回归结果表明，经济增长也是电力需求的重要驱动力，因为1％的经济增长率与人均电力消耗0.13％的增长相关。这些结果首次在文献中证明了对ICT，电力使用和环境污染之间联系的单一评估，并以欧盟为新焦点。根据这些结果，应采取适当措施应对ICT的不利环境影响，同时必须谨慎执行节能政策，以免阻碍经济增长。