This study aims to investigate the influence and the direct causal relationship between energy consumption and the selected explanatory variables in the Nigerian economic system. Using ARDL-VECM over the period of 1972–2014, the results are that financial development exerts negative and significant influence on energy consumption. Trade openness and urbanisation exert positive and significant effect on energy consumption both in the short and long run, the active age (15–64) and old age (65 and >) have different effects on energy consumption. Although the number of the older population (age 65 and above) causes the energy consumption level to fall, the size of the working/active population (age 15–64) causes the energy consumption level to increase. Further results revealed (i) unidirectional causality runs from working population to energy consumption, (ii) uni-directional causality runs from energy consumption to credit to private sector, (iii) uni-directional from trade openness to real GDP per capita, (iv) bi-directional causal relationship is observed between urbanisation and energy consumption, (v) bi-directional relationship between trade openness and energy consumption. These findings may be a guide to policymakers in evaluating Nigerian economy's energy needs and effective energy policies needed to address environmental issues related to fossil fuel use.

中文翻译：

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是什么推动了尼日利亚的能源消费结构？金融发展、人口年龄组、城市化和国际贸易的作用：来自ARDL分析的见解

本研究旨在调查尼日利亚经济体系中能源消耗与所选解释变量之间的影响和直接因果关系。使用 1972-2014 年的 ARDL-VECM，结果是金融发展对能源消费产生了负面和显着的影响。从短期和长期来看，贸易开放和城市化对能源消费产生积极而显着的影响，活跃年龄（15-64 岁）和高龄（65 岁及以上）对能源消费的影响不同。虽然老年人口（65 岁及以上）的数量导致能源消费水平下降，但工作/活跃人口（15-64 岁）的规模导致能源消费水平上升。进一步的结果显示 (i) 从工作人口到能源消费的单向因果关系，(ii) 从能源消费到信贷到私营部门的单向因果关系，(iii) 从贸易开放到人均实际 GDP 的单向因果关系，(iv) ) 城市化与能源消费之间存在双向因果关系， (v) 贸易开放与能源消费之间存在双向关系。这些发现可能为决策者评估尼日利亚经济的能源需求和解决与化石燃料使用相关的环境问题所需的有效能源政策提供指导。(iv) 城市化与能源消费之间存在双向因果关系，(v) 贸易开放与能源消费之间存在双向关系。这些发现可能为决策者评估尼日利亚经济的能源需求和解决与化石燃料使用相关的环境问题所需的有效能源政策提供指导。(iv) 城市化与能源消费之间存在双向因果关系，(v) 贸易开放与能源消费之间存在双向关系。这些发现可能为决策者评估尼日利亚经济的能源需求和解决与化石燃料使用相关的环境问题所需的有效能源政策提供指导。