Open Access Research Article

From Growth to Green: Do Finance and Digitalization Reshape Carbon Emissions in the United States?

Authors

  • Md Omar Farukh Departmant of Applied Science in Organizational Management and Leadership, Eastern Florida State College, USA.
  • Shamina Israt Tithi Departmant of Earth and Environmental sciences, Brooklyn College, CUNY, New York, USA.
  • Kuan Mo Departmant of Earth and Environmental sciences, Brooklyn College, CUNY, New York, USA.
  • Tahia Tasnuva * Departmant of Master of Business Administration, Manarat International University, Ashulia, Dhaka-1314, Bangladesh.

https://doi.org/10.22105/masi.v3i2.104

Abstract

This study investigates the underlying determinants of carbon emissions in the United States by focusing on the combined roles of economic growth, energy efficiency, financial accessibility, information and communication technology, and urbanization. Using annual time series data spanning 1990 to 2022, the analysis applies the autoregressive distributed lag framework to explore both long run equilibrium relationships and short run adjustments among the variables. The empirical findings indicate that economic expansion continues to exert upward pressure on emissions, reflecting the persistence of energy intensive production and consumption structures. In contrast, improvements in energy efficiency significantly reduce emissions by lowering energy intensity and enhancing technological performance. Financial accessibility also contributes to environmental improvement by facilitating investment in cleaner technologies and sustainable infrastructure. Similarly, the expansion of digital technologies supports emission reduction through improved resource allocation, operational efficiency, and energy management systems. Urbanization shows mixed effects, with short run pressures on emissions but weaker long run influence. The error correction mechanism confirms a stable long run relationship, indicating that short term deviations gradually converge toward equilibrium. Overall, the findings highlight that financial and digital development, when aligned with efficiency improvements, can play a crucial role in promoting a low carbon transition. These results provide important insights for designing integrated policies that balance economic progress with environmental sustainability.

Keywords

Low carbon transition Digital transformation Financial inclusion Energy intensity Urban expansion
References (58)
  1. [1] Yağış, O., Ridwan, M., Fakher, H. A., Ko, J., Akhter, A., & Barut, A. (n.d.). Circular economy as a catalyst for ESG performance: Unlocking the strategic role of resource productivity in the Nordic Region. Corporate social responsibility and environmental management. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.70622

  2. [2] Fakher, H. A., & Idroes, G. M. (2025). Room for improving the ecological sustainability gap in g20 economies through the lens of load capacity factor: The role of green energy initiatives as moderators. Innovations in environmental economics, 1(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.48313/iee.v1i1.33

  3. [3] Jahanger, A., Hossain, M. R., Onwe, J. C., Ogwu, S. O., Awan, A., & Balsalobre-Lorente, D. (2023). Analyzing the N-shaped EKC among top nuclear energy generating nations: A novel dynamic common correlated effects approach. Gondwana research, 116, 73–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2022.12.012

  4. [4] Ridwan, M., Hassan, M. R., Debnath, A., Akther, A., Khudoykulov, K., Haseeb, M., & Hossain, M. E. (2025). AI innovation, globalization, and trade freedom: Drivers of environmental sustainability in BRICS-T nations. Environment, development and sustainability, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-025-07090-7

  5. [5] Raihan, A., Voumik, L. C., Ridwan, M., Ridzuan, A. R., Jaaffar, A. H., & Yusoff, N. Y. M. (2023). From growth to green: Navigating the complexities of economic development, energy sources, health spending, and carbon emissions in Malaysia. Energy reports, 10, 4318–4331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2023.10.084

Article Metrics

How to Cite

Farukh, M. O. ., Tithi, S. I. ., Mo, K. ., & Tasnuva, T. . (2026). From Growth to Green: Do Finance and Digitalization Reshape Carbon Emissions in the United States?. Management Analytics and Social Insights, 3(2), 82-93. https://doi.org/10.22105/masi.v3i2.104

Similar Articles

1-10 of 75

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.