Perceived Impact of Economic Policies on Green Growth in Southern Nigeria

Abstract

In a functional economy, economic policies are designed to regulate industrial activities, promote clean energy, and encourage environmentally responsible investment, all of which are essential for sustainable development. To assess how these policies affect green growth, the study examined their impact in Southern Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was employed because the population comprised all self-employed persons in five South-South states of Nigeria. These individuals were drawn from both public and private organisations. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to recruit 1200 participants. The Impact of Economic Policies on Green Growth Questionnaire (JEPGGQ), which contains 20 closed-ended items, was designed with a 4-point Likert scale to collect data. The instrument demonstrated both face and content validity, and a reliability index of .809 was determined using Cronbach's alpha. Data were analysed using simple descriptive statistics. The results revealed that harsh and unstable fiscal policies do not promote green growth in a country. The study concluded that effective enforcement of regulations encourages industries to adopt cleaner production technologies, thereby improving waste treatment systems and reducing environmental degradation. Among other recommendations, the study recommended that the government should strengthen public institutions that create awareness and increase stakeholders’ participation.