Title: Urbanisation and environmental performance nexus: the role of control of corruption

Authors: Ilemobola Solomon Oyefabi; W.N.W. Azman-Saini; Mohamad Khair Afham Muhamad Senan; Muhammad Daaniyall Abd Rahman

Addresses: Department of Economics, Faculty of Management Sciences, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Nigeria; School of Business and Economics, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia ' School of Business and Economics, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia ' School of Business and Economics, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia ' School of Business and Economics, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract: Given the increasing concerns over the environmental consequence of the growing urban population and governance challenges in Africa, the study explores the impact of urbanisation on environmental performance in a panel of 10 African countries, taking into account the role of corruption control from 1996 to 2022. We applied the Pedroni (2004) and Westerlund and Edgerton (2007) cointegration tests to examine the cointegration relationship between the variables. Furthermore, the regression analysis was estimated using the dynamic common correlated effects (DCCE) model. The study shows a long-run relationship between the variables. The results from the DCCE estimation revealed that urbanisation has an adverse effect on environmental performance, both in the short run and long run. However, the interactive relationship between control of corruption and urbanisation turns out to be positive. This suggests that the environmental consequences of urbanisation are not merely a result of urban growth but are heavily conditioned by the strength of institutional structures. Enhancing corruption control acts not only as a regulatory mechanism but also as a catalyst for progressive urbanisation. The study recommends that policymakers in the selected countries should prioritise strengthening corruption control measures to promote sustainable urban development and environmental resilience.

Keywords: urbanisation; environmental performance; corruption control; dynamic common correlated effects; DCCE; STIRPAT model.

DOI: 10.1504/GBER.2026.156146

Global Business and Economics Review, 2026 Vol.35 No.3, pp.342 - 364

Received: 24 Feb 2025
Accepted: 17 Jun 2025
Published online: 07 Sep 2026 *

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