Nexus between renewable-disaggregated non-renewable energy consumption and economic growth in GCC countries: a Cobb-Douglas production function analysis

Abstract The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries face the challenge of balancing their reliance on non-renewable energy with the need for sustainable economic growth. This study investigates the disaggregated impacts of renewable and non-renewable energy sources (coal, oil, natural gas) on GDP...

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Main Authors: Ebrahim Abbas Abdullah Abbas Amer, Zhang Xiuwu, Ebrahim Mohammed Ali Meyad, Mohammed Muneer Alareqi, SAMEER. M. H. BATHER, Amr Abdelwahed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2025-07-01
Series:Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05041-1
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author Ebrahim Abbas Abdullah Abbas Amer
Zhang Xiuwu
Ebrahim Mohammed Ali Meyad
Mohammed Muneer Alareqi
SAMEER. M. H. BATHER
Amr Abdelwahed
author_facet Ebrahim Abbas Abdullah Abbas Amer
Zhang Xiuwu
Ebrahim Mohammed Ali Meyad
Mohammed Muneer Alareqi
SAMEER. M. H. BATHER
Amr Abdelwahed
author_sort Ebrahim Abbas Abdullah Abbas Amer
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries face the challenge of balancing their reliance on non-renewable energy with the need for sustainable economic growth. This study investigates the disaggregated impacts of renewable and non-renewable energy sources (coal, oil, natural gas) on GDP in GCC nations from 1995 to 2020, addressing the gap in understanding how different energy types contribute to growth in this region. Using a Cobb-Douglas production function and advanced panel econometric methods, including Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) and Panel-Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE) models, we account for cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity. Our results show that non-renewable energy, particularly natural gas, drives long-term GDP growth, but with diminishing returns, while renewable energy shows a significant positive correlation with GDP, indicating its potential for supporting sustainable growth. Causality tests confirm that oil promotes growth, coal and natural gas support conservation, and renewables have a neutral impact. These findings challenge the traditional energy dependency of the GCC and emphasize the need for energy diversification. We recommend increasing investments in renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and aligning human capital development with sustainability goals. This study provides a region-specific framework for policymakers navigating the energy transition in hydrocarbon-dependent economies.
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spelling doaj-art-0fbb59b9bc4946dea7d1c71d1300dd742025-08-20T03:46:07ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922025-07-0112111810.1057/s41599-025-05041-1Nexus between renewable-disaggregated non-renewable energy consumption and economic growth in GCC countries: a Cobb-Douglas production function analysisEbrahim Abbas Abdullah Abbas Amer0Zhang Xiuwu1Ebrahim Mohammed Ali Meyad2Mohammed Muneer Alareqi3SAMEER. M. H. BATHER4Amr Abdelwahed5Institute of Quantitative Economics and Statistics, Huaqiao University, XiamenInstitute of Quantitative Economics and Statistics, Huaqiao University, XiamenSchool of Economics and Management, Chang’an University, Xi’anSchool of Public Policy and Administration, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’anSchool of Economics and Management, Chang’an University, Xi’anInstitute of Quantitative Economics and Statistics, Huaqiao University, XiamenAbstract The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries face the challenge of balancing their reliance on non-renewable energy with the need for sustainable economic growth. This study investigates the disaggregated impacts of renewable and non-renewable energy sources (coal, oil, natural gas) on GDP in GCC nations from 1995 to 2020, addressing the gap in understanding how different energy types contribute to growth in this region. Using a Cobb-Douglas production function and advanced panel econometric methods, including Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) and Panel-Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE) models, we account for cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity. Our results show that non-renewable energy, particularly natural gas, drives long-term GDP growth, but with diminishing returns, while renewable energy shows a significant positive correlation with GDP, indicating its potential for supporting sustainable growth. Causality tests confirm that oil promotes growth, coal and natural gas support conservation, and renewables have a neutral impact. These findings challenge the traditional energy dependency of the GCC and emphasize the need for energy diversification. We recommend increasing investments in renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and aligning human capital development with sustainability goals. This study provides a region-specific framework for policymakers navigating the energy transition in hydrocarbon-dependent economies.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05041-1
spellingShingle Ebrahim Abbas Abdullah Abbas Amer
Zhang Xiuwu
Ebrahim Mohammed Ali Meyad
Mohammed Muneer Alareqi
SAMEER. M. H. BATHER
Amr Abdelwahed
Nexus between renewable-disaggregated non-renewable energy consumption and economic growth in GCC countries: a Cobb-Douglas production function analysis
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
title Nexus between renewable-disaggregated non-renewable energy consumption and economic growth in GCC countries: a Cobb-Douglas production function analysis
title_full Nexus between renewable-disaggregated non-renewable energy consumption and economic growth in GCC countries: a Cobb-Douglas production function analysis
title_fullStr Nexus between renewable-disaggregated non-renewable energy consumption and economic growth in GCC countries: a Cobb-Douglas production function analysis
title_full_unstemmed Nexus between renewable-disaggregated non-renewable energy consumption and economic growth in GCC countries: a Cobb-Douglas production function analysis
title_short Nexus between renewable-disaggregated non-renewable energy consumption and economic growth in GCC countries: a Cobb-Douglas production function analysis
title_sort nexus between renewable disaggregated non renewable energy consumption and economic growth in gcc countries a cobb douglas production function analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05041-1
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