A recent study published in the CIT Review Journal examines the relationship between fossil fuel consumption and key macroeconomic factors in South Africa over the period 1990–2019.

The research explores how natural resource rents, urbanization, industrialization, and total factor productivity influence fossil fuel consumption within the country’s evolving economic and energy landscape. Using advanced econometric methodologies incorporating structural breaks and non-linear dynamics, the study provides comprehensive long-run evidence on the interaction between these variables.

The findings indicate that industrialization, urbanization, and resource rents contribute significantly to increased fossil fuel demand, while improvements in total factor productivity help reduce energy intensity. The study highlights productivity and efficiency improvements as important pathways toward reducing dependence on fossil fuels while sustaining economic growth.

The article was published in the November 2025 issue of the CIT Review Journal.

Read the full article here: CIT Review Journal