ABSTRACT

This study investigates the role of economic and political institutions as drivers of renewable energy production in Africa. To achieve this, the study employs panel data of 41 African countries from 2000 to 2017. To deal with endogeneity challenges associated with panel data, we use the two-step Systems Generalized Method of Moments (SGMM). Generally, we find evidence that robust economic institutions are relevant to increasing the level of renewable energy production in Africa. Second, the disaggregated measures of economic institutions show that both size of government and Freedom to trade internationally have a positive effect on renewable energy production. On the contrary, an increase in legal system and property rights reduces the level of renewable energy production. Third, the study finds that political institutions moderate the relationship between economic institutions and renewable energy production. Therefore, toward the goal of promoting SDG 12, governments in Africa should actively strengthen economic institutions to enhance responsible production of energy. However, such efforts will be much more fruitful if the level of political institutions is also strengthened.

摘要

本研究调查了经济和政治机构作为非洲可再生能源生产驱动力的作用。为了实现这一目标，该研究使用了 2000 年至 2017 年 41 个非洲国家的面板数据。为了应对与面板数据相关的内生性挑战，我们使用了两步系统广义矩量法 (SGMM)。一般来说，我们发现有证据表明，强大的经济制度与提高非洲可再生能源生产水平有关。其次，经济制度的分类衡量表明，政府规模和国际贸易自由度对可再生能源生产都有积极影响。相反，法律制度和产权的增加降低了可再生能源的生产水平。第三，研究发现，政治制度调节经济制度与可再生能源生产之间的关系。因此，为了实现可持续发展目标 12，非洲各国政府应积极加强经济制度，以加强负责任的能源生产。但是，如果政治制度的水平也得到加强，这样的努力将会更有成效。