Time-varying Relationship between Fossil Fuel-Free Energy Indices and Economic Uncertainty: Global Evidence from Wavelet Coherence Approach

Abstract

Considering the abysmal environmental impacts of anthropogenic activities, the entire world has been striving to shift toward a green economy. Also, the transition to a greener economy entails green financing, which escalates the pace and performance of environment-friendly economic activities. However, uncertain economic conditions might be a hindrance to green financing. Based on this, I investigate the co-movement of fossil-fuel-free energy equity indices returns and Twitter-based economic uncertainty using a wavelet coherence approach. The findings document that global, the US, and Japanese fossil-fuel-free indices show strong and positive co-movement with Twitter economic uncertainty for short- and medium-term investment horizons. However, a weak positive co-movement is observed during the Russia-Ukraine war. Based on these interesting findings, I suggest many policy implications.

Keywords

• Renewable energy investment, Energy markets, Twitter-based economic uncertainty, Fossil fuel-free energy equity, Russia-Ukraine war, COVID-19