A Critical Review of Convergence in Energy Self-Sufficiency: The Role of Renewable Energy, Fossil Fuel Rents, Energy Efficiency and Gross Domestic Product Per Capita

Abstract

This study presents a critical review of prior research concerning the cross-country convergence of energy self-sufficiency. Using a critical literature review methodology, this research evaluates the theoretical rigor, methodological validity, and contextual relevance of the original study. The review acknowledges the novelty of applying the Phillips-Sul club algorithm to a 159-country panel, confirming that energy self-sufficiency does not converge globally but forms distinct convergence clubs predominantly driven by fossil fuel endowments. However, this critical assessment identifies several significant methodological and interpretive limitations. Key weaknesses include the fragility of the club convergence algorithm on a short dataset, unresolved mechanical endogeneity in the Probit analysis, and the absence of transition path visualizations. Furthermore, the reliance on fossil fuel rents heavily overshadows the secondary roles of renewable energy and energy efficiency. Ultimately, while the reviewed study makes a credible contribution by proving that global energy self-sufficiency is structurally non-convergent, its determinant claims and policy implications should be treated as provisional.