Factors Affecting the Material Footprint in G7 Countries: Panel Cointegration Approach With Fourier Function

Abstract

The material footprint (MFP) is a critical issue due to the pressure on natural resources, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and increased greenhouse gas emissions. In the existing literature, the determinants and their impacts on the MFP of G7 countries have not been sufficiently examined. The aim of this study is to analyze the effects of material productivity, energy transition (ET), globalization, economic growth, financial development, and population on the MFP of G7 countries. Using annual data from 1983 to 2021, the panel cointegration technique and the Toda–Yamamoto causality test with Fourier function are applied. The results reveal that there are significant but variable causal relationships between the dependent and independent variables specific to each country. Panel cointegration estimates show that renewable energy, economic growth, financial development, and population have a positive effect on MFP, while material productivity, globalization, and the square of economic growth have a negative effect. These findings support the validity of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis in the context of MFP. Our study provides policy recommendations to help G7 countries achieve a balance between environmental sustainability and economic growth.