Structural change, modernization, total factor productivity, and natural resources sustainability: An assessment with quantile and non-quantile estimators

KOÇAK E., Onderol S., Khan K.

RESOURCES POLICY, vol.74, 2021 (SSCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 74
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2021.102433
  • Journal Name: RESOURCES POLICY
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, Aerospace Database, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), Business Source Elite, Business Source Premier, Communication Abstracts, EconLit, Index Islamicus, INSPEC, Metadex, PAIS International, Pollution Abstracts, Public Affairs Index, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Keywords: Natural resource, Sustainability, Ecological footprint, Structural change, Social change, Total factor productivity
  • Erciyes University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This paper evaluates the effects of structural change, modernization, globalization, and total factor productivity on natural resource utilization in China over the period 1970-2017 by using non-quantile and quantile estimators. The results reveal that (i) income growth, industrialization, urbanization, and total factor productivity have a detrimental effect on the sustainability of natural resources. (ii) Global integration contributes to the sustainability of natural resource utilization (iii) There is no statistically significant relationship between institutional development and sustainability of natural resources. After all, this paper underlines that China's economic, social, and technological developments are not sustainable in terms of natural resources. While this research provides some policy recommendations, it also suggests that all aspects of the ecological sustainability of the structural change process in China should be discussed further.