Energy Consumption and Economic Growth Nexus: Empirical Evidence from Tunisia

Abstract

This study analysed the trend of energy consumption, real output, financial development, monetary policy rate and consumer prices and also examined the long-run relationship and direction of causality between energy consumption and economic growth with consideration for financial development, monetary policy rate and consumer prices. These were with a view to examining the relationship between energy consumption and economic growth in Nigeria during the period 1971-2010. The result showed that all the variables used in the study are characterized by a positive trend. Also, it was found that variables followed a I(1) process. The study provides weak evidence in support of long-run relationship between energy consumption and economic growth. The study further revealed that energy consumption among other variables positively and significantly influenced output growth in the short-run. Using the first three lags, we found no causal evidence one way or two way between energy consumption and economic growth. The study concluded that energy consumption only has short-run positive impact on the economy but has not enhanced long-run economic growth in Nigeria during the period under investigation.