Analyzing the Effect of Foreign Direct Investment and Import of Capital Goods on Energy Intensity in Iranian Economic Sectors

Generally, investment in new technology through foreign direct investment or import of capital goods can lead to decrease energy intensity. Hence, the main purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare the effect of foreign direct investment and import of capital goods on energy intensity of Iranian economic sectors. In this regard, disaggregated data for the sectors of agriculture, transportation, industry, and mine have been used during 1993-2018 and the model has been estimated by Arellano and Bond method. Other than two above mentioned variables, energy price index, value added and its square, trade openness, producer price index and exchange rate have been used as explanatory variables. The results show that the lag of foreign direct investment has significant and negative effect on energy intensity in economic sectors, while import of capital goods has no significant effect and even the lag of this variable has increased it. Moreover, value added, energy price index and trade openness have negative relation with energy intensity. Finally, producer price index and exchange rate have positive relation with energy intensity. Hence, absorption of foreign direct investment than import of capital goods is important to reduce energy intensity in Iranian economic sectors.