The mobile phone in governance for environmental sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Purpose

In this study, we assess how the mobile phone can be leveraged upon to improve the role of governance in environmental sustainability in 44 Sub-Saharan African countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The Generalised Method of Moments is used to establish policy thresholds. A threshold is a critical mass or level of mobile phone penetration at which the net effect of governance on carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions changes from positive to negative.

Findings

Mobile phone penetration thresholds associated with negative conditional effects are: 36 (per 100 people) for political stability/no violence; 130 (per 100 people) for regulation quality; 146.66 (per 100 people) for government effectiveness; 65 (per 100 people) for corruption-control and 130 (per 100 people) for the rule of law. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed.

Originality/value

The study provides thresholds of mobile phone penetration that are critical in complementing governance dynamics to reduce CO₂ emissions.

Citation

Asongu, S. and Nting, R. (2023), "The mobile phone in governance for environmental sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa", Journal of Economic and Administrative Sciences, Vol. 39 No. 1, pp. 225-243. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEAS-01-2021-0001