Causality relationship between energy consumption, economic growth, FDI, and globalization in SSA countries: a symbolic transfer entropy analysis.

To substantiate the validity and usefulness of the symbolic transfer entropy test for longitudinal data, and how it validate or contrast existing study results generated using other forms of causality tests, we empirically examine panel-based causality relationships among foreign direct investment, energy consumption, globalization, and economic growth respectively, between the periods 1970 and 2014 using sub-Saharan African countries as a case study. Based on our findings, we are of the opinion that STE causality test results resonate existing findings, and it is a suitable causality approach for longitudinal data and for developing countries with poor-quality data, most specifically for the sample region.