Effects of financial development,economic growth and trade on electricity consumption: Evidence from post-Fukushima Japan

Abstract

This study examines the long-runand short-run effects of financial development, economic growth, export, importsand capitalon the Japanese energy predicaments as a result of the foregoing energy crisis in the country. To ensure arobust outcome, the study applied the extended Cobb–Douglas production function and used time series data from 1970 to 2012. Following to this, structural break unit roottest, ARDL bounds test approach to cointegration and the Johansen cointegration test were applied. In addition, the VECM Granger causality frame work was used in determining the causal relationship between the variables. The findings of the study establish that, in the long-runa 1% rise in financial development, economic growth, exports and imports in Japan will exerta significant pressureonthe Japanese electricity consumption by0.2429%; 0.5040%; 0.0921% and 0.2193% respectively.However, capital was found to decline energy consumption in all material respect .In the short-run, the study discovered how a1%rise in the dynamics of financial development, economic growth, exports and imports to add to the Japanese electricity predicaments by 0.2210%; 0.5840%; 0.0521% and 0.2031% respectively. The existence of the feedback relationship between most of the variables was discovered, while, economic growth, exports, imports,and trade openness were found to Granger-cause electricity consumption. The study advocates the adoption of massive but competitive renewable energy system in Japan. How it should be done and why it should be done are carefully set by this study.