Asim Iqbal

Effective management of natural resources is paramount for achieving sustainable economic growth while mitigating environmental degradation in resource‐rich regions. This study investigates the impact and spatial spillover effects of natural resources on economic growth and CO ₂ emissions for 54 African countries. The data from 2005 to 2022 were collected from the World Development Indicators (WDI). Recognizing the endogeneity issues, the study utilized two‐stage least square estimation approaches, including panel 2SLS, Spatial Autoregressive (SAR), and Spatial Durbin Model (SDM) estimations to obtain both spatial and non‐spatial estimates. The non‐spatial results indicate a strong positive impact of natural resources, CO ₂ emissions, FDI, and governance on growth, while reliance on renewable energy sources may temporarily lower GDP due to initial transition costs. Moreover, GDP growth, FDI, and governance positively affect CO ₂ emissions, whereas natural resources and renewable energy inversely influence CO ₂ emissions. In addition, the spatial analysis findings reveal that GDP growth in one country positively influences GDP growth in neighboring countries and neighboring countries' natural resources also have significant spatial spillover effects on the GDP growth in the region. Moreover, CO ₂ emissions exhibit spatial interdependence with neighboring nations and the natural resources of neighboring countries exert significant spatial spillover effects on CO ₂ emissions. This study contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive spatial and non‐spatial analysis of the natural resource‐economic growth‐environment nexus in Africa. It provides novel insights into the spatial spillover effects that have been overlooked in prior research. The findings recommend boosting regional cooperation in resource management and emission reduction to get benefits on positive GDP growth spillover effects and mitigate CO ₂ emissions across neighboring African countries.

This study meticulously explores the intricate relationship between water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities and economic well‐being in Punjab, employing a comprehensive approach that utilizes Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) data. Existing research lacks comprehensive multilevel and spatial analyses of the effect of WASH facilities on economic well‐being. Addressing a gap in existing research, this study employs both linear and multilevel regression models to analyse household and district‐level factors. The study finds significant associations between improved sanitation, hygiene practices and economic well‐being. A 1% increase in WASH facilities is associated with approximately a 0.52% increase in economic well‐being. Moreover, the enduring influence of parental education and the socio‐economic dynamics within households play pivotal roles. At the district level, factors such as healthcare institutions, a lower multidimensional poverty index and enhanced access to water and sanitation infrastructure emerge as crucial contributors to economic well‐being. The spatial analysis, utilizing Moran's I, further enriches the geographical understanding of these intricate connections. The results suggest a positive spatial correlation of WASH facilities within Punjab. This study attempts to unravel this complex relationship of WASH facilities with economic well‐being, which is very important for further understanding the broader dimensions of socio‐economic factors forming these dynamics. The insights gleaned from this research hold pivotal implications for policymaking, guiding interventions toward inclusive and sustainable socio‐economic well‐being.

The health and well‐being of children can be achieved through access to clean water, proper sanitation, and hygiene practices. The current study investigates the effect of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) on health outcomes using the multiple indicator cluster surveys (MICS) data. The household‐level and district‐level determinants of child health are analyzed using logistic regression models and multilevel logistic regression models. The results indicate that there are significant relationships between water availability, sanitation facilities, hygiene practices, and health outcomes. Access to clean water, an increase in sanitation facilities, and proper hygiene have a significant positive relationship with child health. Better access to clean water enhances children's well‐being. The level of parental education, household head dynamics, and WASH indicators at the district level also have a significant relationship with child health. The bivariate Local Moran's I analysis of child health and WASH facilities shows positive spatial autocorrelation (0.441). It also identifies the districts with significant high–high and low–low clustering patterns. This study contributes to achieving SDGs 3 and 6 to develop policies, programs, and future‐based solutions to promote the health and well‐being of children in Punjab and other similar areas.

Amid the escalating global water scarcity concerns, exacerbated by increasing demand characterized by unsustainable water consumption practices, this study addresses the imperative need to identify the factors that promotes the sustainable water consumption behavior among households. Our research builds upon the theoretical premises of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), proposing a unique model that incorporates consumers’ water-saving preferences as a moderating factor to address the intention-behavior gap. In order to accomplish the proposed study objective, we approached 1552 households living in the residential premises of Lahore Division. We applied Partial Least Square – Structural Equational Modelling (PLS-SEM) to empirically analyze the results. Our research reveals that consumer’s sustainable water consumption intention and water saving preferences are important factors that promotes the sustainable water consumption behavior among the households. Moreover, the study unveils the moderating role of these preferences in reinforcing the relationship between intention and behavior, effectively bridging the intention-behavior gap. Additionally, our research identifies the indirect influence of consumers’ water-saving attitudes and perceived behavioral control on shaping sustainable water consumption behavior. Importantly, the study demonstrates a substantial improvement in the predictive accuracy of TPB with the inclusion of water-saving preferences as a moderating factor. These insights hold significant implications for devising interventions to promote sustainable water consumption behavior among households.

In order to achieve economic sustainability, Asian nations must coordinate their efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. This paper explores this vital issue. Asia plays a crucial role in the global economy, which emphasizes how urgent it is to improve economic sustainability in order to promote justice and resilience on a global scale. In order to examine the factors that influence economic sustainability in the area between 2000 and 2021, this study looks into the effects of financial development, education, governance, and labor force dynamics. The study applies a rigorous econometric technique and makes use of panel regression and panel two-stage least squares (2SLS) models to illuminate the various aspects that impact the sustainability of economies in Asia. The empirical results highlight the critical roles that government expenditures on financial development, workforce expansion, and education play in promoting economic sustainability. Moreover, governance metrics positively influence GDP, suggesting that governance plays a critical role in determining long-term economic results. For steady and fair economic growth, this paper recommends giving priority to policies that assist financial development, wise educational investments, and the promotion of good governance. Policymakers can build focused initiatives that support economic sustainability and are in line with the larger global goal for resilient and inclusive development by using the identified determinants and their interaction.