International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Policy

Energy and growth: A Cobb-Douglas comparative analysis of Egypt, Algeria and Nigeria

Ndubuaku, Victor Chijioke — 2026-01-09

This study explores the interplay between energy, capital, and labour as critical factors of production influencing economic growth in Algeria, Egypt, and Nigeria. The study determined a comparative analysis of the direction and impact of the energy-growth hypothesis on the economic growth of Algeria, Egypt, and Nigeria. Utilizing a modified Cobb-Douglas production model examined through Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) and other analytical techniques, the study analyzed time series data from 1990 to 2016 sourced from the World Development Index. The dependent variable analyzed in this study was GDP per capita, while the independent variables included capital (measured by gross capital formation), labour (represented by physically active individuals), and energy (indicated by electricity consumption) for Algeria, Egypt, and Nigeria, respectively. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between capital and economic growth exclusively in Algeria, while no substantial effects were observed in Egypt and Nigeria. Conversely, labour consistently demonstrated a strong positive impact on economic development across all three countries, highlighting the labour-intensive nature of their economies. Electricity consumption was significantly linked to economic growth in Nigeria but showed no significant effects in Algeria and Egypt, indicating potential inefficiencies in their energy sectors. The study underscores the need for strategic physical capital investments, human capital development, and energy infrastructure to harness the full potential of these economies, thereby enhancing growth and sustainability in the region.

Climate change, greenhouse gas emission and economic development in Nigeria

Ndubuaku Victor Chijioke — 2026-01-09

Climate change is a global environmental problem affecting both advanced and developing nations; it specifically poses economic development challenges for developing countries like Nigeria. This study observed the influence of greenhouse gas emissions on economic development in developing countries, with a particular focus on Nigeria. The climate variables of greenhouse gases used as independent variables were represented by carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions, respectively; while the concept of economic development was proxied using gross domestic product per capita. The data spanned from 1990 to 2020, and the analytical model was formulated in line with the classical linear regression model. The model was analyzed using a combination of fully modified ordinary least squares, dynamic ordinary least squares, and canonical cointegrating regression. The results showed a mix of both negative and positive outcomes. The findings indicated a negative impact of carbon dioxide on gross domestic product per capita, a positive impact of methane on gross domestic product per capita, and a positive impact of nitrous oxide on gross domestic product per capita. It was recommended that developing nations like Nigeria should invest in renewable energy and adopt sustainable farming techniques to promote growth. The uniqueness of this research lies in the simultaneous investigation of the combination of greenhouse gas emissions, namely, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, within the climate-development framework, departing from most studies that focus on other measures of climate change and developed nations.

Socioeconomic determinants of indoor air pollution exposure from household cleaning chemicals

Fatima E Al Kuwari — 2026-02-27

Indoor air pollution represents a significant but insufficiently addressed dimension of environmental inequality, particularly concerning household cleaning chemicals. While research has largely focused on outdoor emissions, people spend most of their time indoors, where exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) is influenced by socioeconomic conditions, housing quality, and regulation. This study examines how socioeconomic status (SES) structures disparities in indoor air pollution exposure from cleaning chemicals across five regions: the United States, aggregated Europe, India, the Gulf States, and South Korea. Treating these regions as subpopulations within a unified framework, the study evaluates whether lower SES is systematically associated with higher exposure and greater health risks. The analysis integrates emission proxies from the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR), including VOC speciation and PM₂.₅ emissions linked to cleaning products, with socioeconomic, household, and health-burden proxy variables from international datasets. Results reveal persistent vertical inequalities within countries and horizontal inequalities across regulatory contexts. Lower-income households are disproportionately exposed due to reliance on higher-emission products, constrained ventilation, crowded living conditions, and limited access to mitigation. A focused case study of South Korea’s post-2012 regulatory reforms following the humidifier disinfectant disaster illustrates how governance failures shape exposure risks. Scientifically, this study advances indoor air pollution research by embedding inequality and regulatory dimensions into cross-regional exposure assessment. From a policy perspective, the findings highlight the need for harmonized chemical regulation, transparent labeling, and affordability-driven interventions to reduce inequality and protect vulnerable populations globally and equitably, sustainably.