Introduction

The intricate relationship between energy consumption and economic growth has captivated scholars and ignited vigorous debates since the early 1990s. Initial studies unveiled a seemingly straightforward connection, suggesting that increased energy usage equated to enhanced economic prosperity. However, as research has evolved, a more nuanced reality has emerged. The energy-growth dynamic, as it turns out, is overly complex and heavily influenced by a multitude of factors, including the economic development level, the energy sources utilized, and environmental policies in play.

Within this realm, research efforts have consistently generated diverse findings. These findings not only vary between different nations but also shift when considering different time periods within the same country, as highlighted by Soytas and Sari (2003). In the case of Türkiye, Sari and Soytas (2004) emphasized the significance of examining disaggregated energy consumption, employment, and income as pivotal components of the nation’s economic growth. Their study revealed that energy consumption accounted for a substantial 21% of the variance in GDP forecasts within the Turkish context. This research underscored the importance of a comprehensive approach to assess various energy consumption sources when crafting economic policies. Moreover, it proposed that policymakers stand to gain valuable insights from understanding the intricate interdependencies governing energy consumption and their effects on economic growth, thereby facilitating informed energy investment allocation.

Yet, Altinay and Karagol (2004) arrived at a contrasting conclusion, asserting that there was no concrete evidence of causality between energy consumption and GDP in Türkiye based on detrended data. In addition, some studies have shed light on the existence of a reciprocal relationship within this complex dynamic. Paul and Bhattacharya (2004) noted bidirectional causality between energy consumption and economic growth in India, with the direction of causality shifting between the short-run and long-run. In the short term, energy consumption acted as an engine of economic growth, while in the long term, economic growth propelled energy consumption. Lee (2006) delved into the connection between energy consumption and income across 11 major industrialized countries, revealing that these countries, despite sharing similar development levels, exhibited diverse characteristics in this relationship.

Further research hinted at the critical role of energy in certain countries. Sari and Soytas (2007) suggested that in some cases, energy might hold greater significance than labor and capital as an input. Notably, the effects of energy consumption on economic growth exhibited variations in the case of developed and developing countries. In developed countries, bidirectional causality between energy consumption and economic growth persisted in both the short and long term. Conversely, in developing countries, energy consumption primarily stimulated growth in the short term, as demonstrated by Mahadevan and Asafu-Adjaye (2007).

The type of energy source employed also emerged as a key determinant of this relationship, as evidenced by a study conducted by Yoo and Ku (2009). Their investigation into nuclear energy consumption and its relationship with economic growth across six countries unveiled intricate patterns. For instance, Switzerland demonstrated a two-way relationship, where nuclear energy consumption and economic growth exhibited mutual influence. In France and Pakistan, the causal link flowed primarily from economic growth to nuclear energy consumption, with limited observable feedback in the opposite direction. Korea was driven by nuclear energy consumption, while Argentina and Germany displayed no discernible causal connection between nuclear energy consumption and economic growth.

The year 2010 marked a significant turning point, with a surge in studies exploring the relationship between electricity consumption and its impact on economic growth. Nevertheless, these studies yielded diverse outcomes. For instance, Chandran et al. (2010), Lorde et al. (2010), and Ouedraogo (2013) explored long-term relationship between growth and electricity consumption in Barbados, with the non-residential sector acting as a key driver of growth. It also pointed to bidirectional causality between electrical energy consumption and real GDP eventually, but only unidirectional causality from energy to output in the short term. In contrast, Acaravci and Ozturk (2010) found no long-term relationship between electricity consumption per capita and real GDP per capita.

Modern research increasingly acknowledges the intricate interplay between energy consumption and its far-reaching environmental impacts, highlighting the need for a comprehensive understanding of the complexities involved (Androniceanu & Georgescu, 2023; Eldowma et al., 2023; Kareem et al., 2023; Usman et al., 2022; Wang et al., 2022). This expanded outlook delves beyond traditional economic aspects to scrutinize the intricate interplay between energy utilization and the environment. Researchers have started to explore the effects of both renewable and non-renewable energy sources, unveiling their multifaceted impacts on various dimensions. Studies have embarked on examining the enduring and causal connections between the utilization of these energy sources and economic growth within G7 nations. The long-term analysis disclosed that both renewable and non-renewable energy consumption significantly impacted the economic growth of these countries. However, it is vital to acknowledge that the outcomes exhibited variation, contingent on factors such as the type of energy utilized, the applied production function, and the specific country under scrutiny.

Within this framework, biomass energy consumption also assumed prominence. Several studies indicated a long-term relationship between biomass energy consumption and economic variables, often including economic growth, as highlighted by Bildirici (2016). Moreover, the exploration of CO2 emissions, a crucial aspect in the discourse on global sustainability, gained prominence. Understanding the link between energy consumption and CO2 emissions becomes imperative as nations grapple with climate change challenges. These studies have unveiled a positive correlation between CO2 emissions and GDP growth rate, implying that as CO2 emissions escalate, so does the GDP growth rate. These findings have prompted recommendations for policymakers to bolster the renewable energy sector as a means of promoting sustainable development, curbing CO2 emissions, and fostering economic growth in a sustainable manner, as proposed by Androniceanu and Georgescu (2023).

Similarly, in the case of renewable and nuclear energy consumption, research has unveiled a positive and statistically significant impact on GDP. This suggests that both nuclear energy and renewable energy sources have the potential to stimulate economic growth, as shown by Azam et al. (2021).

In conclusion, the complex interplay between energy usage and economic growth defies a one-size fits-all characterization. It varies from nation to nation, shifts over time, and depends on the specific economic context. India, for instance, has seen varying results, from no discernible causal link to unidirectional relations. The primary objective is to compile and categorize existing literature, finding its primary thematic focuses within the domain of energy consumption and economic growth while simultaneously pinpointing gaps in the research landscape. The other aims of study are as follows:

  • To identify the publication trend and the most prominent journals in energy consumption and economic growth nexus

  • To identify the most prominent countries, authors, and articles on the topic

  • To identify the common keywords of analysis used by researchers on this topic

These goals will be achieved through descriptive and network analyses. The structure of this research paper unfolds as follows: The current section lays the foundation by presenting the study’s conceptualization. The following section elucidates the methodology employed in the literature review, while the next section delves into the findings derived from the comprehensive literature evaluation. Finally, the research challenges highlighted by the literature study are discussed, and a research agenda for the field of energy consumption and economic growth is proposed.

Methodology

The Scopus database was used for this review because it offers users a more thorough coverage of pertinent, peer-reviewed documents. Additionally, Scopus provides more comprehensive bibliographic information than Google Scholar. It was therefore considered the most suitable source from which to retrieve papers for this study of literature.

When carrying out the search, the authors followed PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines (Moher et al., 2009). PRISMA specifies steps to be reported in identification and extraction of information in systematic reviews of research (refer to Fig. 1). A keyword search was conducted in Scopus using the following string: TOPIC-energy consumption AND economic growth. This search yielded an initial offering of 2334 documents and after the screening of documents, i.e., stating the time period (2003–2023), defining the document types (articles, conference paper, book chapter, review, and books), the subject area (economics, finance, social science, and business), and lastly defining the language to English left us with 950 documents. Next, we examined the titles and abstracts of documents remaining in the list and dropped documents that did not focus on the required factors of economic growth and energy consumption. This left a corpus of 409 documents for the quantitative bibliometric analysis. Biblioshiny, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace are used for bibliometric analysis of studies.

Fig. 1
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Selection and rejection criteria used in study

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Results and Discussion

Descriptive Analysis

Figure 2 illustrates the number of documents produced (both open access and closed access) and the average number of citations per year. Based on the graph, the overall growth of publication can be classified into two decades: a comparatively slow growth period (2003–2013) and fast growth period (2013–2023). This decade accounted for approximately 58.43% of the total documents, with 2021 being the prominent year of production, generating a total of 39 documents.

Fig. 2
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Annual scientific production

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This observation suggests that there was a notable increase in interest and research focused on the effects of energy consumption and economic growth during the post-COVID period. The significant rise in the number of documents produced indicates a growing emphasis on studying and analyzing the relationship between energy consumption and economic growth, driven by a range of factors such as the increasing importance of sustainable development, environmental concerns, and the recognition of energy as a critical driver of economic growth.

The mean citation per article demonstrates a declining pattern over the years, suggesting that, on average, the articles are receiving fewer citations. This decline in citation rates may be due to a decrease in the overall impact or significance of the research papers, leading to reduced attention and recognition within the scholarly community. This could be a result of emerging research areas capturing greater interest or the emergence of alternative findings that have gained more prominence. Additionally, shifts in research priorities or evolving trends within the field could contribute to the declining citation rates.

When considering the interplay between open and closed access articles and their citation rates, several insights emerges, starting with open access articles, there is a discernible upward trend over the observed period, with significant peaks occurring around 2021. This peak might be associated with the surge in demand for freely accessible research following the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the scientific community’s drive towards more transparent and accessible information distribution. Despite the growing number of open access articles, the mean citation rate does not show a proportional increase, suggesting that the abundance of accessible research might not automatically result in higher citation counts. This shows that an influx of open access publications does not ensure that each is of high quality or relevance. The decline in average citations could reflect a perception that not all research is equally impactful or worthy of citation.

As for closed access articles, the trend is more variable, with several peaks and valleys over the years. Notably, there is a decline in closed access publications after 2021, which might be indicative of a shift towards open access policies in scholarly communication. The decrease in closed access articles correlates with the overall decline in mean citations per article, which suggests that the historical advantage that closed access articles had in terms of citations could be diminishing. This could reflect a change in the research community’s attitudes, with a possible preference for open access research that is more widely available, especially in a post-pandemic world where the accessibility of information has become even more crucial.

The trends suggest a complex relationship between access to research and its impact. While the shift towards open access is clear, the perceived quality or impact of these articles, as measured by citations, does not necessarily follow the same upward trajectory. This reflects a growing emphasis on the quality of research over its citation quantity.

Citation Analysis

Citation analysis is a basic technique for science mapping that runs on the assumption that citations reflect intellectual linkages between publications that are formed when one publication cites the other (Appio et al., 2014). In this analysis, the impact of a publication is determined by the number of citations that it receives. Analysis enables the most influential publications in a research field to be ascertained. Though there are a variety of methods (e.g., network metrics) to determine the importance of publications in a research field, the most objective and straight forward measure of its impact is its citation (Pieters & Baumgartner, 2002; Stremersch et al., 2007). Therefore, using citations, we are trying to find the top contributing countries, sources, authors and articles in the field of energy consumption and economic growth.

Countries

The country citation analysis shows that there are 78 countries which are actively publishing research in the field of energy consumption and economic growth. Table 1 shows the 13 most productive countries which meet the minimum threshold of 15 documents. Notably, China appears as the leading contributor (90) followed by United States (43) and Taiwan (26). While China produces the highest number of documents, it is evident that papers from Turkey (319) and the United States (267.50) receive more average citations compared to China (248.50) in the context of our study on the effects of energy consumption on economic growth. This observation suggests that the studies conducted by Turkey and the USA are more focused and specifically tailored to the topic at hand. Moreover, the greater citation counts for papers of Turkey and the USA can be attributed to their robust collaboration networks with researchers from other countries. This is evident in the higher total link strength of Turkey and the United States compared to China, despite having a similar level of affiliation with other countries. The international collaboration and increased visibility play a significant role in the higher citation rates observed for papers from Turkey and the USA.

Table 1 Most cited countries
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Table 2 presents the journal name, publisher, documents, citations, average citations per document, and H index. Energy policy has produced 115 documents (28.11%) with 21,716 citations and 254 H index. Energy economics (114 documents) is ranked second with 21,202 citations followed by Energy (67 documents) with 4254 citations. Interestingly, 72.37% documents are contributed from three journals published by Elsevier.

Table 2 Most cited journals
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Authors

Table 3 shows the top 10 authors based on average citations. These selected authors published 81 articles (19.80%) of total set of 409 documents. Shahbaz M. stands out as the most productive author with a remarkable total of 14 documents followed by Apergis N. and Payne J.E. each with 11 documents. However, it is noteworthy that while Shahbaz M. leads in the number of documents produced, there are five authors, namely, Ozturk, Apergis, Payne, Lee, and Wolde-Rufael, who have received more citations, showing their higher influence and impact within the field. The higher citation counts for these authors suggest that their research findings, methodologies, or theories have had a greater impact and have been referenced more often by other researchers. The co-authorship data shows that Shahabaz M. from Pakistan had done collaboration with Ozkurt I. from Turkey to produce influential research papers. Apergis N. (USA) and Payne J.E. (USA) worked jointly to study energy consumption and growth nexus. Wang L. (China) also did majority of research work in collaboration with authors from different countries. The scholars of China mainly collaborate with researcher from their own country and European and Asian countries to conduct the research.

Table 3 Most cited authors
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Articles

The top 10 most cited articles are presented in Table 4 with a minimum of 600 citations. The most cited article (with 1156 citations) “A Literature Survey on Energy-Growth Nexus” authored by Ozturk I. provided a comprehensive survey of the existing literature on the relationship between energy consumption and economic growth. By reviewing studies, theories, and empirical evidence, the article offers a holistic understanding of the dynamics of this nexus. The articles by Sadorsky P. (2010) and Sadorsky P. (2009) with 778 and 450 citations are in the fifth and seventh position, respectively. Sadorsky also discussed urbanization, CO2 emission, and environmental issues in different economies over different time intervals. Apergis N. has published three articles, namely, Apergis and Paynee (2009); Apergis and Paynee (2010); and Apergis and Paynee (2012) with 534, 541, and 839 citations, respectively. He explored the relationship between different forms of energy and economic growth in different countries by using panel error correction model. In addition, Shahbaz M. has contributed two articles: Shahbaz and Lean (2012) with 525 and Shahbaz et al. (2013) with 485 citations, respectively. These articles were focusing on the linkage between financial development, energy consumption and economic growth. These studies could help the Government to form energy policies overall without compromising economic growth.

Table 4 Most cited articles
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Co-citation Analysis

One novel approach to researching the cognitive structure of science is co-citation analysis. Tracking pairs of papers that are cited together in the source articles is known as co-citation analysis.

Research clusters start to form when multiple writers co-cite the same pairs of papers. These clusters of co-cited works typically have a shared theme. Co-citation analysis, when combined with multidimensional scaling techniques and single-link clustering, literally maps the structure of science as a whole and of research areas.

Co-cited Authors

Figure 3 represents co citation network of authors, cited in the same data set of 409 papers. The 10 authors are presented in network diagram, each meeting the threshold of minimum 250 citations. Authors are presented as nodes in figure and the diameter is dependent on the number of citations. The color of the nodes shows the relationship between the authors. The closest two nodes are to each other in the relation map, the more likely they are associated. There are two clusters in the network: cluster 1 (red color nodes) consist of 6 items and cluster 2 (green color nodes) consist of 4 items. Payne J.E. (567) is the highest co-cited author followed by Apergis N. (407), Narayan P.K. (332), Soytas U. (321), Sari R. (308), and Wolde-Rufael Y. (282) in cluster 1. Publications in this cluster are spread all over from 2007 to 2013 and are mostly concerned with renewable energy, CO2 emission and nuclear energy. In cluster 2, Shahbaz M. (430) is the highly co cited author followed by Ozturk I. (429), Pesaran M.H. (359), and Shin Y. (290). The research work in this cluster is mainly published between 2013 and 2019 and focused on trade openness, financial development, urbanization, and FDI. Therefore, these authors’ work can help policymakers and researchers in future research.

Fig. 3
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Author co-citation network

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Co-cited Sources

Table 5 shows the 7 journals having the highest co citation, each with a minimum of 200 citations. Energy Policy has the highest citations (2090) followed by Energy Economics (1188), Energy (719), Econometrics (480), Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (251), Journal of Econometrics (248), and Applied Energy (223). From the H index perspective, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews has the highest H index of 378 followed by Applied Energy (264), Energy Policy (254), Energy (232), Energy Economics (187), and Journal of Econometrics (177). It is to be noted that 88% of journals are published by Elsevier which depict its significant contribution of articles in the field of energy consumption and economic growth.

Table 5 Most co-cited sources
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Keyword Analysis

Keywords are considered the basic elements of representing knowledge concepts and have been commonly used to reveal the knowledge structure of research domains. In this paper, keyword trend, keyword network, citation burst, and thematic map are used to see the energy research pattern.

Keyword Trend

In Fig. 4, the development of research articles over time are presented in terms of keywords. Although the articles published over the period 2006–2010 concentrated on electricity consumption in Eurasia and Asia, the focus shifted to keywords such as renewable energy, carbon dioxide, and alternative energies in current publications.

Fig. 4
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Keyword trend topics

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Keyword Citation Burst

Figure 5, produced using the Cite Space programming, contains the keywords with the citation bursts. The blue line addresses the time stretch, though the red line represents the time it was recognized that a keyword had a burst. Although the keyword “energy efficiency” arrived at the biggest number of citations over the period 2015–2016; the keyword carbon dioxide arrived at the largest number of references over the period 2017–2018. The latest keyword as far as citation burst (2020-2023) is energy consumption and sustainable development.

Fig. 5
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Top 4 keywords with the strongest citation burst

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Keyword Co-occurrence Analysis

Keyword co-occurrence analysis was conducted to identify the energy research trend (Fig. 6). Keywords network was created by using VOSviewer software. Initially, 2173 keywords were extracted from selected 409 articles. Out of 2173 keywords, 45 keywords meet a threshold of a minimum of 30 co-occurrences. It is found that “economic growth” and “energy utilization” are the most common keywords with 337 and 308 co-occurrences, respectively. Economic and social effects occurred 221 times followed by energy consumption (172) and energy policy (145). The network analysis reveals that energy use, economic and social effects, and economic growth are the most studied terms in energy related studies. Most of the research used error correction model, panel cointegration, regression equation, and granger causality models to analyze energy and economic growth relationship. It is also observed that China and Eurasia are most studied countries. The result of network analysis shows that consumption of nuclear energy, natural gas, residential energy, and CO2 emission are emerging topics in this field. Moreover, boot strapping, spatial econometric model, GMM panel, VAR Approach, and Lag Augmented causality have been used by few authors in their research.

Fig. 6
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Keyword co-occurrence network

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Themes and Thematic Area

Figure 7 illustrates how the author’s keywords were used to create a thematic map that was divided into four themes: niche (left top), motor (top right), emerging or declining (left bottom), and basic themes (right bottom). In the diagram, the presence of motor themes (top right) such as economic growth, economics, energy use, energy policy, and gross domestic product in your research indicates their significance and relevance within the research domain. These themes are considered well-developed and central to the understanding of the relationship between energy use and economic growth.

Fig. 7
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Thematic map

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The inclusion of economic growth and economics suggests that your research focuses on exploring the impact of energy use on the economic performance of a country or region. These themes highlight the interest in understanding how energy consumption and energy policies influence economic growth, development, and productivity.

The theme of energy use emphasizes the importance of studying the patterns, trends, and implications of energy consumption in relation to economic activities. It suggests an examination of energy consumption patterns, energy efficiency, energy sources, and the role of energy in various economic sectors.

The inclusion of energy policy as a motor theme indicates a focus on understanding the policy frameworks, regulations, and strategies related to energy use and their implications for economic growth. This theme suggests an analysis of government policies, incentives, and interventions aimed at promoting sustainable energy practices and achieving economic objectives.

Also, the incorporation of gross domestic product (GDP) as a motor theme highlights the consideration of GDP as an important indicator of economic performance. It suggests an investigation into the relationship between energy use and GDP growth, exploring how changes in energy consumption impact economic output and overall economic development.

Lastly, the inclusion of granger causality test, cointegration analysis, causal relationship, and error correlation as motor themes in your research signifies the methodological approaches and analytical techniques employed to examine the relationship between energy use and economic growth. They indicate a comprehensive approach to understanding the causal dynamics, long-term equilibrium, and potential error correlations in the relationship. By utilizing these methods, our research aims to provide a rigorous and robust analysis of the interplay between energy consumption and economic growth.

Overall, the presence of these motor themes in your research signifies a comprehensive examination of the interplay between energy use, economic growth, energy policy, and related factors. It indicates a focus on understanding the economic implications of energy consumption and the importance of policy interventions in achieving sustainable and balanced economic development.

The intersection of motor themes and basic themes in your research, which include energy consumption, economic and social effects, economic analysis, carbon dioxide, panel data, carbon emissions, renewable energies, regression analysis, and economic development, provides valuable insights into the multidimensional aspects and methodologies employed in studying the relationship between energy consumption and economic growth.

The presence of energy consumption and economic development as intersecting motor and basic themes suggests a focus on understanding how energy consumption patterns impact the overall economic development of a country or region. This indicates an investigation into the role of energy consumption as a driving force for economic growth and development.

The inclusion of economic and social effects as an intersecting theme signifies an examination of the broader implications of energy consumption on society and the economy. It suggests an analysis of how energy consumption patterns influence various socio-economic factors, such as employment, income distribution, quality of life, and environmental sustainability.

The theme of economic analysis indicates a quantitative approach to understanding the relationship between energy consumption and economic growth. It suggests the application of economic theories, models, and analytical techniques to evaluate the economic implications and outcomes associated with diverse levels of energy consumption.

The presence of carbon dioxide, carbon emissions, and renewable energies as intersecting themes highlights the consideration of environmental factors and sustainability in the study. It indicates an investigation into the environmental consequences of energy consumption, particularly in terms of carbon emissions and the potential role of renewable energy sources in mitigating these emissions.

The inclusion of panel data and regression analysis as intersecting themes suggests the use of advanced statistical methods to examine the relationship between energy consumption and economic growth. These methods allow for the analysis of data over time and across different entities (such as countries or regions) to capture the dynamics and heterogeneity of the relationship.

Overall, the intersection of these motor themes and basic themes signifies a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to understanding the complex relationship between energy consumption and economic growth. It reflects an integration of economic, social, environmental, and methodological perspectives in analyzing the various dimensions and implications of energy consumption in driving economic development.

The intersection of emerging and declining themes and basic themes in your research provides valuable insights into the multifaceted aspects of energy consumption and economic growth. The intersection of basic themes with emerging themes signifies the exploration of new avenues and emerging areas of research within the core concepts of energy consumption and economic growth. It indicates the researchers’ desire to investigate novel perspectives, emerging trends, or emerging challenges that have the potential to contribute to the existing body of knowledge in the field. Similarly, the intersection of basic themes with declining themes reflects the assessment of previously studied aspects or topics that have experienced a decline in research interest or relevance. It suggests the recognition of the changing dynamics and evolving research priorities within the field of energy consumption and economic growth.

The presence of renewable resources highlights the growing importance of renewable energy sources in the context of energy consumption and economic growth. It signifies the increasing interest in exploring sustainable alternatives to traditional fossil fuels and the potential benefits of incorporating renewable resources into energy systems.

The inclusion of the United States as a theme suggests a focus on understanding the dynamics of energy consumption and economic growth within this specific country. It signifies the recognition of the United States as a significant player in the global energy landscape and the importance of studying its energy policies, market trends, and economic implications. Also, the inclusion of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) suggests an exploration of the similarities, differences, and policy implications among these countries, which often show relatively elevated levels of economic development.

The presence of panel causality as a theme highlights the use of advanced econometric techniques to investigate the causal relationship between energy consumption and economic growth. It suggests an interest in understanding the direction, size, and robustness of causality through the analysis of panel data involving multiple countries or regions. Also, the inclusion of the neutrality hypothesis as a theme indicates an emerging interest in investigating the notion that energy consumption has no long-term effect on economic growth.

Further the quadrant of emerging and declining themes refers to the presence of emerging themes indicating the identification of new or emerging areas of research interest within the context of energy consumption and economic growth and the declining theme suggests areas of research that were once prominent but have gradually lost significance or attention over time. These themes may represent research topics that were extensively studied in the past but are now considered less relevant or have been overshadowed by emerging areas of focus. This quadrant includes the “far east” referring to the world showing an emerging trend of studies being in the region especially in the continent of Eurasia and Asia. Further the theme involves mathematical models and demand side management, both see a declining trend.

The presence of niche themes indicates that there is a subset of research that specifically investigates and examines these areas related to energy consumption and economic growth. These topics may have unique characteristics, challenges, or implications that require specialized attention and analysis.

The inclusion of “nuclear energy” and “nuclear power” as niche themes suggests that there may be research studies specifically exploring the relationship between nuclear energy generation and its impact on economic growth. Similarly, the presence of country-specific themes such as “Germany,” “Canada,” “Japan,” “France,” and “United Kingdom” indicates that their research studies focusing on the energy consumption and economic growth dynamics within these specific countries.

The inclusion of “oil consumption” and “oil supply” as niche themes suggests that there may be research studies examining the economic effects of oil consumption patterns and the availability of oil supply on economic growth.

Major Findings

The following are the significant findings pertaining to the research objectives:

  • The overall growth of publication can be classified into two decades: a comparatively slow growth period (2003–2013) and fast growth period (2013–2023). This decade accounted for approximately 58.43% of the total documents. The significant rise in the number of documents produced, likely driven by several factors such as the increasing importance of sustainable development, environmental concerns, and the recognition of energy as a critical driver of economic growth. There is a discernible upward trend of publication of open access articles over the observed period. However, the mean citation rate does not show a proportional increase, suggesting that the abundance of accessible research might not automatically result in higher citation counts. This shows that an influx of open access publications does not ensure that each is of high quality or relevance

  • The results suggest that China is the most productive country followed by United States (43) and Taiwan (26). However, Turkey (319) and the United States (267.50) receive more average citations compared to China (248.50). This observation suggests that the studies conducted by Turkey and the USA are more focused and specifically tailored to the topic at hand. Energy Policy is the most productive journal followed by Energy economics and Energy. Interestingly, all these journals are published by Elsevier.

  • Shahbaz M. stands out as the most productive author (14 documents) followed by Apergis N. (11 documents) and Payne J.E. (11 documents). The trend of collaboration is addressed through co-authorship analysis. Shahabaz M. from Pakistan had done collaboration with Ozkurt, I. from Turkey to produce influential research papers. Apergis N. (USA) and Payne J.E. (USA) worked jointly to study energy consumption and growth nexus. Wang L. (China) also did majority of research work in collaboration with authors from different countries. The scholars of China mainly collaborate with researcher from their own country and European and Asian countries to conduct the research.

  • Through keyword analysis, research found that consumption of nuclear energy, natural gas, residential energy, and CO2 emission are emerging topics in this field. Moreover, boot strapping, spatial econometric model, GMM panel, VAR Approach, and Lag Augmented causality have been used by few authors in their research.

  • Most earlier studies looked at the linkages between energy consumption and economic growth, taking energy consumption at the aggregate level, and only a few studies considered fossil fuels, oil-based electrical generation, wind, solar PV, geothermal, and biomass power and hydroelectric power at the disaggregate level Rahman and Velayutham (2020). Moreover, few studies have assessed CO2 emissions, energy consumption, and GDP growth in the Asian countries

  • The majority of the paper studied the relationship between energy consumption and economic growth by including four variables: energy consumption, capital, labor, and GDP. Only few studies included urbanization, globalization, government spending, financial development, and population as part of their study.

Conclusion and Policy Implications

The relationship between energy consumption and economic growth is pivotal, representing a cornerstone in the development of nations. Energy serves as the lifeblood of industrial processes, powering innovation, productivity, and infrastructure. Robust and sustainable economic growth requires a consistent and scalable energy supply, enabling the expansion of industries, the provision of essential services, and the improvement of living standards. As economies evolve, so does the demand for energy, creating a symbiotic link between increased consumption and heightened economic activity. Notably, advancements in technology and shifts towards cleaner, more efficient energy sources are reshaping this relationship, emphasizing the importance of aligning energy policies with economic goals. Recognizing the significance of energy consumption in fostering economic growth is fundamental for crafting informed policies, ensuring energy security, and steering nations towards a balanced and sustainable future. This study examines research trends in the field of energy-growth nexus over a period of two decades (2003-2023). We have analyzed 409 research papers extracted from Scopus database to provide an insight on the historical development of this area of research, its current state, and impact and to forecast potential future extensions or where it is heading.

The use of nuclear energy, natural gas, domestic energy, CO2 emissions, and sustainable development are among the developing research areas that show a notable correlation with the expansion of energy-related studies in these varied sectors. As far as methodology is concerned, the majority of research used error correction model, panel cointegration, regression equation, and granger causality models to analyze energy and economic growth relationship. More advanced research techniques like boot strapping, spatial econometric model, GMM panel, VAR Approach, and Lag Augmented causality may be incorporated in future research to allow a more holistic and thorough analysis and understanding of the area.

This paper suggests that interdisciplinary research on energy can significantly impact global policy by promoting the implementation of standardized research protocols. Examining the nexus between energy usage and economic growth, while considering factors such as trade openness, resource availability, fossil fuel consumption, agricultural land use, financial development, and foreign investment, would substantially advance scientific understanding. However, the authors propose that in-depth studies focusing on a single nation, rather than comparative analyses, can yield more insightful results. By analyzing these variables within a specific national context, researchers can generate findings that can be directly applied by governments, energy associations, and researchers to establish stronger correlations between energy use and economic performance.

Furthermore, the paper emphasizes the need for enhanced coordination among international energy organizations like the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Energy Outlook (IEO), and the World Energy Outlook (WEO). This collaboration would be instrumental in developing effective energy efficiency policies and achieving sustainable development goals.

The proposed research recommendations and collaborative initiatives, with a focus on sharing research outcomes across different global regions, offer valuable solutions to pressing energy challenges. These challenges include the relationship between climate changes, financial instability in the energy sector, environmental degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the research findings can serve as a guide for researchers by highlighting the potential of interdisciplinary approaches for tackling complex problems.

This study is not free of limitations. Firstly, the reliance solely on data extracted from the Scopus database presents a limitation in terms of data comprehensiveness. Although Scopus is a robust repository of scholarly literature, the omission of data from other sources Web of Science and Google Scholar may introduce a certain degree of bias. These alternate databases might offer distinct perspectives and a wider scope of research findings, potentially influencing the overall conclusions drawn from the study. Secondly, the scope of this research was confined to the analysis of energy consumption’s effects on economic growth, omitting the consideration of broader environmental and social implications. A more holistic examination might encompass variables such as carbon emissions, ecological footprints, and social equity aspects, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the energy-environment-development relationship. The study emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary research and coordinated policy efforts to address the complex interconnections between macroeconomic factors, energy usage, and sustainable development.