Asymmetric effects of militarization on economic growth and environmental degradation: fresh evidence from Pakistan and India

To examine the asymmetric effects of militarization on economic growth and environmental degradation, this empirical research analyzes annual data of Pakistan and India over the period 1985–2018 using the NARDL econometric model. The empirical results show significant positive militarization effects on economic growth, while non-militarization also shows positive effects on the economic growth in Pakistan and India. Estimation showed that a 1% increase in militarization (non-militarization) led to 8.818% (3.849%) increase in GDP growth, whereas a 1% increase in militarization (non-militarization) decreased carbon emissions by − 1.034% (− 0.225%) in the long run in Pakistan, while militarization has also decreased the carbon emissions − 0.337% in India in the long run. The relationship between militarization and economic growth has an asymmetry in Pakistan and India in the short and long run, while asymmetry also exists between militarization and CO 2 in Pakistan and India in the short and long run. Our findings offer significant policy implications for promoting economic growth and environmental quality in Pakistan and India.