The Effects of Digitalization, Energy Intensity, and the Demographic Dividend on Viet Nam’s Economic Sustainability Goals

Abstract

This research examines how the digital economy, energy efficiency, and demographic transition might help Viet Nam achieve more sustainable economic development. The causal association between digitalization, the demographic dividend, energy intensity, and long-term economic development has not been thoroughly investigated yet. Therefore, this paper aims to examine the asymmetric relationship between these indicators in Viet Nam, which is recognized as an emerging economy, using the relatively novel quantile-on-quantile regression and Granger causality approaches in different quantiles. The empirical findings suggest that the asymmetric interaction between digital innovation, energy intensity, demographic change, and economic growth in Viet Nam is primarily positive, even though there are slight differences across various quantiles of the selected indicators. In addition, the outcomes of Granger causality in quantile analysis uncover that, during the sample period, a bidirectional association exists between digitalization, the demographic dividend, and economic growth, while a unidirectional causality runs from energy intensity to economic growth.