Fatma Turuc Seraj

Gender equality is widely recognized as a key driver of inclusive and sustainable economic development, yet its economic impacts vary across European Union (EU) member states. This study investigates the long‐run relationship between gender equality and economic performance in the 27 EU countries during 1991–2022. Specifically, it examines the effects of gender equality on foreign direct investment (FDI), women's labor force participation, renewable energy consumption, trade openness, and employment in the agricultural, industrial, and service sectors. To establish the statistical properties of the panel data, the analysis applies cross‐sectional dependence, panel unit root, slope heterogeneity, and Westerlund cointegration tests. Long‐run relationships are then estimated using the Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) and Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS), enabling the identification of heterogeneous effects across different levels of economic performance. The findings indicate statistically significant long‐run associations between gender equality and women's labor force participation, renewable energy adoption, foreign direct investment inflows, trade openness, and sectoral employment. Quantile estimates reveal that these positive effects are strongest in countries with relatively lower levels of gender equality, indicating diminishing marginal returns as equality improves. Furthermore, gender equality generates larger employment and investment gains in lower‐performing economies than in countries with more advanced gender equality outcomes. Overall, the results suggest statistically significant long‐run relationships between gender equality and productivity, competitiveness, and sustainable economic performance. These findings provide policy evidence supporting country‐specific gender equality reforms to foster inclusive growth and strengthen the European Union's long‐term sustainability agenda.

Background: Agricultural export capability is vital for developing economies, yet Nigeria's shift toward petroleum has left its rural sector structurally underdeveloped and vulnerable.Aims: This study investigates the key determinants of Nigeria's agricultural export performance, focusing on agricultural land availability, foreign direct investment, GDP growth, domestic crop production, exchange rates, and female agricultural employment.Methods: Utilizing annual time-series data from 1990 to 2023, the study evaluates short- and long-run dynamics using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model combined with the Residual Augmented Least Squares–Engle Granger (RALS-EG) cointegration approach.Result: In the long run, agricultural land expansion, FDI inflows, and exchange rates positively impact export volumes, whereas GDP growth, domestic crop production indices, and female agricultural employment show negative effects. In the short run, land use and crop production enhance exports, while exchange rate volatility and GDP growth exert negative pressures. The findings reveal that output increases do not automatically translate to export growth due to domestic food demand and supply chain inefficiencies, while structural and resource barriers hinder the export contribution of female labor.Conclusion: Policymakers must look beyond purely output-driven initiatives. Achieving sustainable agricultural export growth requires targeted investments in post-harvest rural infrastructure, macroeconomic and financial stability, and gender-equitable access to agricultural resources and extension services.

Purpose: This study aims to examine how training quality (TQ) in Pakistan’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system translates into sustainable livelihood (SL) outcomes. It tests an integrated model based on the sustainable livelihoods framework (SLF), incorporating mediation, moderation and direct effects. Design/methodology/approach: A structured survey of 396 TVET graduates was analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling. Purposive sampling ensured contextual heterogeneity across gender, location and institution type. Findings: TQ influences SLs indirectly through skill acquisition and, more strongly, through market linkages. Support networks have a significant direct effect, while socio-cultural barriers meaningfully weaken the primary pathways from training to livelihoods. Originality/value: The study provides an empirically tested, integrated SLF model that highlights relational and contextual drivers in fragmented systems. It offers policymakers a diagnostic framework for moving beyond input-focused TVET reforms toward integrated support, market alignment and culturally responsive design in Pakistan and similar Global South contexts.

In this analysis, the dynamic nexus between green governance, energy transition, and carbon emissions in the period spanning 1990 and 2022 for the twenty-one member economies of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and partner economies is examined. Employing Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS), Driscoll–Kraay Standard Errors (DKSE), and Quantile-on-Quantile Regression (QQR), this analysis encompasses the effects of the use of renewable energy sources, economic growth, and changes in the population on carbon emissions. Results for the analysis show that the adoption of renewable energy sources, tough environmental regulations, and green innovation play a significant role in offsetting carbon emissions since the results are more pronounced at the tail ends of the distribution of carbon emissions. Conversely, changes in the level of population and economic growth are identified as potential exacerbators of environmental concerns. In offering implications for policymakers, this analysis argues that environmental laws and taxation and green innovation are potential means of improving environmental governance in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and climate change commitments. By addressing the issue of differential environmental effects based on varying levels of carbon emissions, this analysis makes contributions to the expanding literature on sustainable environmental governance in the twenty-first-century energy economy.

In the face of unprecedented challenges to global agricultural systems, it is imperative to comprehend the synergy between resource management and productivity in the quest for regional stability. This study is driven by the imperative to discern the long-term determinants of sustainable agriculture in the integrated context of the Water–Energy–Food–Environment nexus. In this context, the research focuses on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development-European Union (OECD-EU) member countries from 1991 to 2022, examining how these world-leading economies manage the intricate nexus of trade-offs between resource use and agricultural value-added. By employing a sound panel data approach and second-generation econometric analysis to address the complexities of economic interlinkages, we assess the effect of water abstraction, food production, renewable energy transition and greenhouse gas emissions on agricultural output. The findings indicate that while water resources positively influence development, environmental degradation and the starting costs of energy transition are substantial sources of stress on productivity. Crucially, agricultural efficiency, rather than agricultural output, is revealed to be the leading engine of growth.

This study examines the impact of gender inequality (GIQ) on energy poverty (EP) across Southeast Asia (SA), Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), and European Union (EU) countries over the period 2000–2020 using the Panel Mean Group (PMG) estimation method. The findings reveal that a 1% increase in GIQ leads to a 1.09% rise in EP in SA and a 0.14% increase in SSA, while in the EU, GIQ significantly mitigates EP. Renewable energy consumption (REN) has a strong negative effect on EP, particularly in SA (−0.66%). Additionally, economic development exhibits a non‐linear relationship with EP, where early growth phases may exacerbate deprivation before reversing at higher income levels. These results highlight that gender disparities, even when moderated by economic and energy policy factors, remain a critical determinant of energy access outcomes. Policymakers are urged to adopt gender‐sensitive energy strategies, enhance women's inclusion in energy governance, and increase investments in renewable infrastructure to bridge access gaps and promote inclusive development.

This research investigates the role of fossil fuel energy, renewable energy, and education in terms of years of schooling and mean years of schooling on the economic growth of 19 selected Sub-Saharan African countries. The primary objective is to assess whether renewable energy and educational attainment serve as viable long-term drivers of economic development in a region still heavily reliant on fossil fuels. We employed the newly developed and robust econometric estimators, including “Residual Augmented Least Squares (RALS) co-integration”, to estimate long-term links among the facets of study. Moreover, “Pooled Mean Group–Autoregressive Distributed Lag model (PMG-ARDL) and Quantile Autoregressive Distributed Lag (QARDL)” econometric estimator was employed to estimate the long and short coefficients of the antecedents of study. The estimations obtained from the PMG-ARDL and QARDL estimators provide evidence that the coefficients of fossil fuel energy and renewable energy on economic growth are positive. But surprisingly, the magnitude of renewable energy is greater than fossil fuel energy in Sub-Saharan countries that still depend on fossil fuels. Moreover, human capital and capital stock boost economic growth in the countries studied. The outcomes reveal that not only quality but also quantity of education play a vital role in boosting economic development. To deepen the understanding of the observed effects, the study also explores the transmission channels through which renewable energy and education foster economic growth. Renewable energy contributes by lowering the marginal cost of electricity, encouraging green industrial transformation, and serving as a catalyst for technological innovation. Concurrently, improvements in education—measured by both expected and mean years of schooling—elevate labor productivity and facilitate the absorption and diffusion of new technologies across sectors, thereby stimulating sustained economic performance. The empirical results provide valuable insights for government officials and policymakers in specific Sub-Saharan African countries.

The increasing risks posed by climate change have turned CO₂ emissions into a pressing global issue, prompting the widespread adoption of sustainable development policies. This study investigates the empirical drivers of CO₂ emissions across 15 of the world’s highest carbon-emitting countries from 2000 to 2021, using a range of advanced panel data techniques. The core explanatory variables include green energy transition (GET), fossil fuel consumption (FFC), financial development (FD), mineral resource consumption (MRC), energy intensity (EI), and information and communication technology (ICT). By employing cross-sectional dependence tests, CIPS and CADF unit root tests, cointegration techniques (Westerlund and Dickey-Fuller), and Driscoll-Kraay standard error (DKSE) estimators, the study ensures robust and reliable inference. The findings reveal that a 1% increase in GET and FD leads to a 1.59% and 4.51% decrease in CO₂ emissions, respectively, while higher energy efficiency (EI) also significantly reduces emissions. In contrast, greater use of fossil fuels, mineral resources, and ICT expansion contributes positively to emissions. These results demonstrate the critical role of financial systems, clean energy investments, and energy efficiency in mitigating environmental degradation. The study offers targeted policy insights for countries aiming to balance economic growth with climate goals and highlights the need for enhanced technology transfer and financing mechanisms in low- and middle-income countries.

In today’s competitive era, countries aiming for growth must prioritize entrepreneurship as a key component of economic development and income generation. In Pakistan, men have historically dominated entrepreneurial activities. However, with technological advances and increased access to higher education, women are increasingly entering this traditionally male-dominated field. This article explores the challenges faced by Pakistani women entrepreneurs, particularly those stemming from entrenched gender inequality in society. It highlights key barriers such as patriarchal norms, limited access to financial resources, and limited social and institutional support. These barriers impact women’s ability to launch and grow their enterprises, especially during critical stages such as start-up and business expansion. The article further highlights how these challenges hinder access to key resources such as markets, networks, and mentoring opportunities. The findings suggest that gender-based barriers significantly limit the economic contributions of women entrepreneurs in Pakistan. Overcoming these barriers requires policy interventions and support systems to promote gender equality in entrepreneurship. Addressing these issues can enable women to participate in the economy with greater confidence, independence, and self-direction.