The relationship between nuclear energy consumption and economic growth: evidence from Switzerland

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the relationship between nuclear energy consumption and economic growth in Switzerland over the period 1970–2018. We use data on capital, labour, and exports within a multivariate framework. Starting from the consideration that Switzerland has decided to phase out nuclear energy by 2034, we examine the effect of this structural economic-energy change in the country. To do so, two distinct estimation tools are performed. The first model, using a time-series approach, analyze the relationship between bivariate and multivariate causality. The second, using a Machine Learning methodology, test the results of the econometric modelling through an Artificial Neural Networks process. This last empirical procedure represents our original contribution with respect to the previous energy-GDP papers. The results, in the logarithmic propagation of neural networks, suggest a careful analysis of the process that will lead to the abandonment of nuclear energy in Switzerland to avoid adverse effects on economic growth.

Keywords

• nuclear energy consumption
• GDP
• employment
• capital stock
• time-series
• artificial neural networks