This study investigates the relationship between nuclear energy consumption and economic growth and the role of institutional quality in explaining this relationship using panel data of 18 top nuclear power-consuming countries for the period 1995–2017. It is the first research effort that incorporates the impact of institutional arrangements into the nexus between nuclear energy and economic growth. For this reason, we employ an institutional quality index which constitutes a composite measure of core institutional dimensions such as the rule of law and regulatory efficiency. The results of first and second-generation panel unit root and cointegration tests reveal a long-run relationship between economic growth, nuclear energy consumption, institutional quality, real gross fixed capital formation, and labor force. The pooled mean group estimation shows that nuclear energy consumption and institutional quality exercise significant positive effects on economic growth in the long run. In contrast, higher institutional quality has a negative long-run impact on the use of nuclear power. Furthermore, it is only observed a unidirectional causal effect from economic growth to nuclear energy consumption in the short run. Given the global controversies over the role of nuclear power in promoting sustainable economic growth, our findings imply that the institutional framework of the countries that consider nuclear energy as a long-term clean energy option has to be reassessed.

本研究使用 1995 年至 2017 年期间 18 个最大核电消费国的面板数据，调查了核能消费与经济增长之间的关系以及制度质量在解释这种关系方面的作用。这是第一项将制度安排的影响纳入核能与经济增长之间关系的研究工作。为此，我们采用了制度质量指数，该指数构成了法治和监管效率等核心制度维度的综合衡量标准。第一代和第二代面板单位根和协整检验的结果揭示了经济增长、核能消耗、制度质量、实际固定资本形成总额和劳动力之间的长期关系。汇总平均组估计表明，从长远来看，核能消费和制度质量对经济增长具有显着的正向影响。相比之下，更高的制度质量对核电的使用有负面的长期影响。此外，短期内仅观察到经济增长对核能消耗的单向因果效应。鉴于核电在促进可持续经济增长方面的作用存在全球争议，我们的研究结果表明，必须重新评估将核能视为长期清洁能源选择的国家的体制框架。较高的制度质量对核电的使用具有负面的长期影响。此外，短期内仅观察到经济增长对核能消耗的单向因果效应。鉴于核电在促进可持续经济增长方面的作用存在全球争议，我们的研究结果表明，必须重新评估将核能视为长期清洁能源选择的国家的体制框架。较高的制度质量对核电的使用具有负面的长期影响。此外，短期内仅观察到经济增长对核能消耗的单向因果效应。鉴于核电在促进可持续经济增长方面的作用存在全球争议，我们的研究结果表明，必须重新评估将核能视为长期清洁能源选择的国家的体制框架。